Last day of class for my D was today. I took a picture of her in our traditional 1st day of school pose-- just off the front porch with her backpack. I believe we took that picture every day.
Three weeks of “internship” and then she graduates
Every so often a really nice surprise comes along to brighten the day. S got a call last night from the head of the Honors program at his college-to-be, and they’re going to upgrade his scholarship to full tuition and fees!! <:-P He was bouncing off the walls, and we’re thrilled for him. He’s overcome so much with his Asperger’s issues, bullying, etc. and his initial scholarship was a nice validation of all his efforts…but this is the best we’ve ever seen him feel about himself with anything academically oriented. He and D2 turn 18 tomorrow, and he couldn’t be happier with his early birthday present!! $-)
And Mom and Dad being able to save a nice chunk of change in the process…BONUS!! :D/
Excellent news, sir! I hope you have a great birthday celebration with at least two cakes and plenty of chicken wings for all.
Congratulations to the Wolverine family! It makes me smile to think of your son feeling so happy. That’s a very special birthday gift!
Wow, @Wolverine86, that’s great!
We had graduation last night. I didn’t shed one tear. It was in the football stadium, and the weather was lovely, possibly the best ever for this time of year in this region. But the sound system was horrible and the crowd was worse. Honestly, all they care about is blowing horns and ringing cowbells when their family member’s name is called, and for many seconds after their name is called; they don’t care about the speeches or anything. So I couldn’t hear the principal when he went through the accomplishments of the class, but I did barely catch him saying they have students going to colleges all over the country from … (DS told me later it was Columbia))… to Swarthmore (YAY!) to…and then I couldn’t hear any more. Our friend we’ve known since the boys were 3 was valedictorian and DH actually heard someone say she was glad she’d gotten there late so she didn’t have to hear the valedictorian give a speech. I doubt she knew him. They were blocking the view by standing at the railing. Anyway, it’s done. DS said that he wishes college started Monday and he thinks this summer will be a waste. At least he will be making some $$$.
That is amazing news @Wolverine86! Congrats to the family.
@PhxRising – somehow I don’t think I’ll get through S’s tomorrow without shedding a tear. 
It’s inside in an auditorium on a local college campus, and airhorns, cowbells, balloons, and confetti are not permitted by the facility. Hopefully people will comply!
@Wolverine86 That’s great!
Thanks all 
S always feels like he has to compare himself to his overachieving sisters, so it’s nice for him to have something to hang his hat on.
Graduation here will be for 650+ students. They always ask for attendees to hold their applause and cheers until after all the names are called because they cycle from student to student fairly quickly in order to keep the ceremony to a reasonable length. Without fail…there’s always those that ignore the request and drown out the announcement of the student behind theirs. No respect for a formal ceremony and no thoughts about anyone other than themselves. We’re all proud of our kids…but somehow they think making a fool of themselves in public and spoiling some other family’s celebration will show their child how special they think he/she is. :-q
As you might be able to guess…I’m not a fan of public displays of idiocy.
It was kind of funny at my older sister college graduation - the families of each respective graduate cheered for their student. Basically they grouped the graduates of each degree together (Electrical Engineering, in our case) and they walked across the stage one-by-one, each getting their certificate and shaking hands with faculty, etc. When each name was called, the family/friends of the graduate would cheer, then shut up. Next name, next family, etc., down the line. It actually worked pretty well.
Congrats to your S Wolverine86!
Great news @Wolverine86 ! So happy for your son!
I was dreading the air horns at graduation too because they were a real nuisance at previous graduations I attended when my kids were playing in the orchestra. They must have increased the security though, because I didn’t hear a single air horn this year. Still some obnoxious cheering but even that was less than the past.
DS has completed his first week of drum corps and things seem to be going well. Even spotted him in the background of some pictures on the corps webpage 
D is done with high school. She is starting college next week. She will not be going through the graduation ceremony. I am both sad and glad.
Yay @Wolverine86 (and son!) <:-P
When do colleges typically send out health forms & such?
Not sure if we are just supposed to wait or if I am supposed to be searching their website.
@scholarme DS had a notification something like “Things To Do” on his student account. There might have been a general email that said to check for notifications. We just had to send his shot record.
I will have to ask Ms DoItLater to check her student account.
Our ISD has to run about 12 HS graduations through the main district venue, so ceremonies are held to 1 hour over 4 days. They manage to announce all 1000 grads in an hour, and the speeches are short. My son is valedictorian, but speeches are competed for and he chose to not compete - said he’d rather relax at his graduation. Anyone can try out before a faculty panel, and the speeches are always exceptional.
All guests go through security so the vuvuzelas are confiscated, but there is always at least one air horn that finds its way in. They only announce each graduate’s name. That’s it. So when rude families cheer and shout, and the next grad’s name is drowned out, they have just taken away that grad and family’s one chance to hear their student’s name at graduation.
Even worse in my mind is the people who leave early from graduation or any other ceremony. Would it kill them to sit a little longer for the kids at the end of the alphabet? At the college graduation for my oldest son, they called each student’s name and each crossed the stage, but the students sat by major. My son’s major was last, and the venue had cleared out by the time he graduated.
@barfly ugh. Sorry for the boorishness of the audience at a your kid’s graduation.
And it’s everywhere @scholarme. We see it at all types of events - high school band concerts, spelling bees, awards ceremonies! At our HS sports awards, by the time they announced the senior award winners, most of the underclassmen parents had left or were talking.
But not those of us well mannered people on this thread! Nope! Not us!