<p>If you care to share…</p>
<p>Hey, Andi: So many of us think so frequently about Andison (and all of your family)–I think about you a lot–and so hope things are working out well for you and your whole family…just can’t shake this inner feeling that something really good is happening/will happen…Andison so deserves it! We’d love to know, if and when you’re ready to share…</p>
<p>Well, SBmom, since you asked…andison’s strange odyssey of college admissions has continued to take unexpected turns…however I’m happy to report that these turns are for the better!!</p>
<p>He had begun to make plans for the first semester, which he still plans to do:</p>
<p>** arranged to work with a program that does outreach to underfunded music programs in our state’s public schools. He’ll be visiting schools and playing piano accompaniment to young classical musicians. </p>
<p>** arranged to teach piano lessons at a local music school to earn money. </p>
<p>** planning to devote himself to his passion of studying piano (hopefully money earned at above activity will be applied here!).</p>
<p>when the crazy and unexpected happened. He was basically ‘invited’ to apply for special student status at MIT. SO, now, in addition to what he had planned, he’s going to be taking two courses there!! He’ll have to commute from home and won’t have any of the privileges of enrolled students but he’s thrilled and honored to have such an opportunity. </p>
<p>I have to say that when he returned from his visit there, where he was treated with much kindness, the look in his eyes was something I will never ever forget. </p>
<p>Second semester is still in the early planning stages but may involve earning money and then spending it again on travel.</p>
<p>We’re looking forward to many more positive turns of events and all of the lessons learned from his application experiences last year will be applied to his new applications this fall.</p>
<p>luv to everyone,
andi xxoo</p>
<p>Andi:</p>
<p>Did your S participate in the concert at Tanglewood that earned raves in the NYT over the weekend? I was thinking about him as I read it.</p>
<p><em>lol</em> marite I’m sure he would have loved to! He was certainly there listening for every minute of it. I don’t think any of the student pianists participated, however he is in a recital there later today which we’ll be leaving to go to in a few hours. Last night I got a call from him during an intermission, via a friend’s cell phone, attempting to wrangle another three weeks from them and us. He’d probably stay for the rest of his life if he could. It’s a great feeling to see your kid happy!!</p>
<p>What exciting news, andi! I am not surprised at all to hear the MIT staff treated your son with much kindness: I know them to be very special people, with a very human approach, and I am thrilled to hear he’ll have some classes there. If my-son-the-incoming-freshman or I can do anything helpful, just let us know.</p>
<p>The public school music program sounds right up his alley, and will be so appreciated by the students: sounds like a very nice fit! Please give us occasional updates when it feels appropriate. Good luck, andison!</p>
<p>Thanks mootmom! I am very excited for him. Yes, I have since heard that the school can be good with special circumstances.
I think he’ll have a great semester. Maybe he’ll get to meet your S!</p>
<p>andi, </p>
<p>These gap year endeavors sound perfect-- balanced between self & community, and a nice fit with his loves-- plus the academic prestige of the MIT invite. WOW! 
YAY!!</p>
<p>Andi,</p>
<p>How wonderful to hear all of this great news! I love the idea of your S accompanying students in the public schools, and the MIT thing is fabulous!</p>
<p>Thanks SBmom. He’s basking in his good fortune for a few weeks before getting his act together for next year’s applications which will of course include a ‘beloved’ ‘rock solid’ safety :D</p>
<p>Thanks momofthree too!!</p>
<p>This is good…we other mom’s are happy how it is working out…you never know what can happen</p>
<p>Sometimes, things don’t work out as we planned…in 7th/8th grade, my D lost the election as student body president to her rival, a classic “mean girl”- this position was very public, meeting all the visitors, speaking at all the meetings, running all the events etc. After a weekend of tears, we came up with a plan. We went outside of the school and started a few volunteer projects along with starting a Youth Volunteer Group- D ran it and got friends to help at various events…long story short, her volunteering got her noticed by City Hall and she will be doing her second year as a Youth Commissioner for the Mayor of SF and doing JSA at Georgetown… Meanwhile, Miss Mean Girl is doing the same ole thing.</p>
<p>So, there is a silver lining, and if you do follow your passions, it is amazing what doors can open up!!!</p>
<p>
Yes, you never will. On a much smaller scale, I remember when S was doing 3rd grade soccer. He was the goalie. For one of those little Columbus Day weekend tournaments, they were tied for getting a slot in the finals round. The “tie-breaker” was Goals Scored Against. Since S had let in v few goals in two days, his team made the finals.</p>
<p>Soccer is not a big part of his life; wasn’t then, isn’t now. But I will never forget the look on that little 9-year old face when he found out that they’d made it and why. Haven’t forgotten it in 9 years, and never expect to.</p>
<p>To experience this joy for your son, after what you went through on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum; well… there is nothing better.</p>
<p>Just a thought… but college applications involve a lot of speculation as to who will succeed at that school. If your S has a record of college courses (at MIT) and does well in them, it will show that he is capable of succeeding in college courses and will make him a more attractive candidate. Another silver lining.</p>
<p>Best of luck to both of you! :)</p>
<p>Oh Andi, what good news. Your sons music related activities sound just right a good balance between advancing his own skills and helping the community. And the MIT invitation YAY! So nice to hear his gap year is filling out well.</p>
<p>PS - reading about his plans, I want to take a gap year! In a lot of ways, he’s very fortunate to have this opportunity.</p>
<p>It sounds like andison is well on his way to having a great year. I’m so happy for you both.</p>
<p>The combination of music plus classes at MIT sound terrific. Congrats from Ohio!</p>
<p>Hi Andi,
When DS was at Tanglewood, the assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble was the director of ensembles (or something like that) at MIT. That group probably has its final concert this weekend (it’s a four week program)…might be worth Andison to go and see if there are any piano ops with the MIT ensembles this fall. This guy was VERY approachable as I recall. I don’t know if he’s still there or not, but he was also a great conductor and a nice guy. My son really liked him.</p>
<p>Hi Andi, </p>
<p>Congrats to son. I am glad to hear that everything is working out for him. It is true what they say when one door closes another one opens. You never know where this path is going to take him.</p>
<p>andi–your S’s plans sound absolutely wonderful. I’m very impressed that he will be using his talents to nurture others in the the music programs in the schools. And taking courses at MIT sounds great. Way to bounce back! Good luck with everything in the coming year.</p>