<p>She did it!! The past few weeks have been so incredibly stressful for D and me. She is beyond exhausted, and I have more new wrinkles and gray hairs than I can count, but she got all her work finished and graduated yesterday! I am so thankful that her health improved the past few weeks and that she was able to pull it out. And she finished with little damage to her GPA. </p>
<p>Our val… an awesome kid heading to Yale… gave a wonderful speech at graduation. He took a photo of himself at the podium with a coliseum full of grads and their families in the background. He has a great sense of humor. </p>
<p>We attended a grad party last night thrown by D’s BF’s parents. Tonight, our family and BF are going out for a graduation dinner at a nice restaurant. D will probably sleep most of the weekend. She is having surgery on Monday and then starts work the following week. </p>
<p>Now to turn our attention to college forms and dorm shopping. Hooray!!!</p>
<p>@onlyonemom - I’m so sorry to hear that you are struggling. Hang in there! It will get better!</p>
<p>My take on skipping classes they have AP credit for: skip the ones that are not “foundational” for their program. For example, my son is planning on studying mechanical engineering. He has AP credit for Calc 1, Physics 1 (mechanics), English composition, and will most likely also get credit for Chem 1, Calc 2, Bio 1 and Psych 1.</p>
<p>His plan is to take the credit for Calc 1 and re-take Calc 2, retake Physics 1, but take the credit and run for the English class, Chem (required for engineers, but he’ll never take another course building on it), Bio and Psych. </p>
<p>First semester his plan is to take Calc 2, CS for engineers, Solidworks, Honors College class, and a Biological Psych class that requires one of Bio 1 or Psych 1 as a prerequisite. We don’t think that is getting him in too deep, but if it is, he can drop a class and still have full-time status, and still be on track to graduate in 4 years given the AP credit that he will have. (The typical schedule for MechE students in the honors college is Calc 1, Chem 1, Solidworks, HCol and one HSS elective. CS should be easier than chem, so I think he’ll be fine.)</p>
<p>My older son is a CS major in a college of engineering. He took AP credit for Phys 1, Chem 1, Bio, English (2 classes) and CS 1 – his school recommended that CS student SHOULD take the credit for AP CS where possible as their intro course was really intended for students with no programming experience at all. He was not entitled to any credit for Calculus as he had only Calc AB and the first Calc for engineers course at his school covers both AB and BC. (And even though most of it was thus review for him, he was surprised by how much more challenging it was!) this all worked well for him, and being able to "skip ahead’ in the CS curriculum made it easier for him to get an internship the summer after freshman year. He asked the physics department about taking the credit for Phys 1 as he didn’t feel that solid on the material, but they told him that Phys 2 did not really build on it and he’d be fine, and he was. </p>
<p>Graduation is today-I can’t believe it! DS got a packet yesterday with a National Merit Special Scholarship certificate in it. Not sure what that means as he was invited to apply through my husband’s employer but then my husband was laid off. We’ll check with the GC. DS is having a few friends over after the ceremony so I’ve been cleaning and getting snacks.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the support! It means so much to me! s got a call and message from the HR rep. - the message said he wanted to make S an employment offer. S had just missed the call, called him right back but the rep was gone for the day. S will have to wait until Monday for the official offer and acceptance. It is all very formal for a summer job making sandwiches in a summer food program! Basically, he will be making lunches and / or delivering lunches to underprivileged kids at summer camps. He will work 7:30 to 12:30 . S is very happy to get the job and happy he will have his afternoons free. It is his first paying job! …check…
I went shopping today for party supplies - easier than I thought- check …I also went to TJMax - tried on two outfits - a dress and long shirt and summer top - both fit! I found a couple of nice necklaces - one for each outfit - bought the dress, shirt , top , and necklaces all under$100 … Check …I also had lunch with a friend who agreed to pick up my food at the caterer on Sunday ! So nice ! Check…worked on my résumé this morning and will finish it tomorrow. A friend ( from grad school ) told we about a position at her company and offered to pass my résumé on to her boss…check…maybe I just needed to let it all out …I am feeling less stressed…I told my Providence apartment mate that I will move out August 15 - ( really don’t have much to move ) …so that is also a check …wow …I had a very productive day ! What a relief …thank you all again for your support …I am so happy to have a place where I can just let it out…wishes everyone love and happiness ! </p>
<p>Congrats on all of the latest round of graduations and awards!</p>
<p>D’s grad party is tomorrow night (Sat). The tent is up, the lights installed, the games ready and the food ordered. And all 4 of us have lists up to a page long to take care of before 4 PM tomorrow. OMG!!!</p>
<p>Second oldest grandson’s 5th birthday was today. He was so excited when AvonMom and D stopped by his house with his special present. He got a scooter with light up wheels and DIL reprted late tonight that its all he talks about. He and his younger brother will be at the grad party. Looks like he will learn to play cornhole with his uncle (S-2011). For those not familar with the term it’s a beanbag toss game. </p>
<p>Have a great weekend everyone and congrats to all of this weekend’s newest graduates.</p>
<p>Like many of you, we’re gearing up for a graduation party tomorrow after the ceremony. I’ve been on my feet cooking for the last 6 hours and have 3-4 more hours to go. I think I conveniently forgot about not entirely being healed from surgery when I decided to undertake this! I definitely need a nap before continuing tonight. H helped this morning but he booked his band TWO gigs for today -months ago- without thinking about graduation. Duh!</p>
<p>@Overtheedge I’m so glad that everything worked out!!! I’ve been thinking of you and and your D these past weeks … happy to hear the good news :)</p>
<p>@Overtheedge I’m so glad things worked out for your D and she was able to graduate! That’s truly a special accomplishment! </p>
<p>@onlyonemom Sometimes you DO have to let it all out. Penting things up inside is never good. I’m glad you’re feeling more positive about everything now :)</p>
<p>@crowlady Yes, they are more focused on the ACT. All juniors take an ACT prep class as part of the regular curriculum in 11th grade and all the juniors in the state take the ACT on the same day in March as part of our statewide standardized testing program. As a result, the PSAT is not really a priority and few kids take the SAT at all. A handful of kids take SAT subject tests. </p>
<p>I’m pretty relieved that our graduation activities are all finished. I spent today shopping with my BarnardGirl and it was great to spend a whole day with her. Sadly, she returns to NYC tomorrow morning. Then MichiganBoy and I can focus on getting ready for his college experience. </p>
<p>I have been out of touch. My MIL passed away 4 days ago and it has been rough. We are grateful that S14 graduated one week prior so attention could focus on him. He loved his G-ma so much. He has been very mature in supporting our household through this tough time .</p>
<p>So sorry Minnymom. My d seems to really be kicking up her feet and extending the celebration. She came home from beach week exhausted and a little sick, but now her sleep schedule is off. I thought she’d at least spend a day at home, but she went over to her friends house last night fishing on the pier. She announced last night how free she feels now she’s graduated.</p>
<p>Playing catch up as too much has been going on the past few days.</p>
<p>Son '14 graduates today, along with about 300 others from his HS. It will be outside. At least there is a covering over everyone. But it was be hot and humid. Faculty members wear black robes, so I’ll need a shower after the ceremony! I get to sit with my son’s row during the ceremony (he really hoped I would be sitting next to him, but he’s sitting on the other end next to one of the math teachers. That should make him happy since he loved the math teachers.) Then, we plan to go to dinner this evening. Son '14 is not into graduation parties, so we will keep it simple.</p>
<p>Still, it has been a very busy weekend. Son '14 concluded his high school track career by finishing second in the state in the 3200-meter run (he had the lead until the last 95 meters) and seventh in the 1600. His 4 by 800-meter relay team barely missed All-State placement. He also rewrote his 3200 record and helped the relay rewrite its school record. His dream was a state title. So afterwards, I asked him if he were disappointed that he did not achieve his goal. Heck no, he said. It was a wonderful trip, he pointed. It was not always the most pleasant, but he owns 10 school records, and he has a chance to run in college at the D2 level. What more can he ask?</p>
<p>As for skipping intro classes. my son will have lots of AP credit, and he plans to take advantage of whatever he can, including AP econ and AP BC calculus, and he is an econ/math major. He spoke with the department chairs at his university about this, and they encouraged him to go to the next level. So it is possible he could enter college with 45+ hours. The school likes to encourage kids with those numbers to double major, triple major or maybe, earn a masters all in four years. He will keep his options open. He is also interested in picking up a Spanish minor, as it could help increase job possibilities if he goes into the financial world. He got that piece of advice from one of our business teachers who was fluent in Spanish. </p>
<p>Anyone else having drama over who gets graduation tickets? D only gets 6. I won’t recap the whole story, but oy it’s been a rough week. MIL and FIL changed their minds 4 times over whether or not they would fly in. </p>
<p>We had a combined late graduation party last night with some of S2s best football buds and families, out at one family’s ranch. Pot luck, great food, no stress and a helluva lot of fun. How it should be, I think!</p>
<p>At the senior awards night they announced which school each student was attending plus any scholarship money, if any, they received. D, H, and I thought that was odd. We know that D’s “scholarship” money is actually financial aid, but probably 99% of the other people think it is merit based. But, it’s okay if people think she’s smart, when in fact she’s actually smart AND poor (at least poor enough to not be able to pay full price at a private school.) At times like this I wish I was poorer.</p>
<p>Lol - @LibbyT the same thing when D graduated - everyone gasped when D’s 4 year financial aid total to Vandy was announced as a “scholarship.” The truth is, I felt like we’d won the lottery when she got her aid package, so I didn’t mind the misconception!</p>
<p>S had to complete a form which included how much he received in scholarships and grants. They didn’t publish the actual amounts in the graduation program but they listed all the merit scholarships and all the grants. The principal said their class received over $3 mil in scholarships. I have a feeling he included grants in that too. </p>
<p>Does anyone else feel like a slug now? S flew back to Austin this am, grad festivities are over, and D and I have gotten some sleep. I knew I was tired and stressed, but didn’t realize the extent of it until it was over. Found myself weeping uncontrollable tears of relief on the way home from the grocery store yesterday. Other than a few loads of laundry, I haven’t done much all day. I did manage a nap after lunch and a few Bloody Marys :). </p>
<p>My son graduated Friday, and there was a celebration for the graduates at church today. Last night I was in bed at 8 p.m., more tired than I can ever remember being. It’s not like I did that much either. No graduation party - just out for a sushi dinner. </p>
<p>I think my fatigue is because of all the emotions. I can’t figure out how I feel. Excited, relieved, proud, sad about ending this chapter in our lives, anxious about whether he really is prepared for college. </p>
<p>His private school did something at graduation which touched all of us parents deeply. For each of the graduates (all 135 of them), they did a personal writeup, describing the personality and accomplishments of each student, and saying which college they will be attending in the fall. I was instantly in tears as I read it. Each of the students is known and cherished at this school. The ceremony was very special.</p>