Right Sport, Wrong Jersey

My first born son is going to college. After years of hard work, months of applying, touring, and waiting, we have a decision.  Alex will be playing football for Kalamazoo College.  He is now officially a "Hornet."  Sting!

For him, it came down to two schools.  The University of Michigan and Kalamazoo College.  As a boy, he grew up as a  die hard Wolverine fan.  Loved the school, because he loved their teams.  We reminded him that picking a college because you like their football team is not the way to go, although I often make major decisions based on how pretty something looks. 

U of M had been on his radar since he was in grade school. Kalamazoo College came at him from out of nowhere once the high school football season ended in November. Having started the campus touring and application process last summer, I thought we were done with that by December.  But, apparently, this was meant to be.  

U of M had deferred him in December and he waited so patiently until today, when he learned they were unable to offer him a place at their school.  Although he was leaning towards Kalamazoo weeks ago, we wanted him to wait to make his final decision once U of M made theirs. We wanted him to have the opportunity to make a choice, should that be the case.

I truly believe that not getting into the University of Michigan will be one of the best things that has ever happened to him.  Not in a bitter sense, however.  U of M is a wonderful school.  I often thought about how great it would be to have him only 20 minutes away from home, in case I needed to see him. But in my heart, I worried whether it would be the right school. Whether it would be a good fit and whether or not he would become just another student number. From the beginning, Kalamazoo clearly wanted him, and in the end, that's really what it's all about--being wanted. 

Millions of teens do it every year.  By choosing the college they attend, they are making decisions that  will shape their entire lives. It will affect the people they meet and become lifelong friends with. It will help develop them as adults and further shape their values. Such a big decision for a teenager. Wanting something or being wanted. Which way do I go?

Alex is excited and relieved to finally have a school he can identify with, and so are we. August will be here before we know it and I am going to cherish every moment I can between now and then. Our lives, as we know them, are changing starting today. Congratulations, my little Hornet.  

Love, the Queen Bee.