Texas Boys State has officially been cancelled as UT Austin where it is held will be closed all summer. They are moving to a virtual program instead. Our coordinator sent an email out saying participants have a choice of dropping out or taking part in the virtual/online program and would still need to commit to the full week.
I’m not sure what my son should do? Any other states doing the same thing?
This was such a big part of his college resume and EC’s. If he decides not do the online/virtual program, does he still put on his resume that he was selected but program was cancelled because of Covid-19?
@Momof3B - My S21 was also very disappointed when FL canceled their Boys State this year. They won’t be doing anything online. S21 will put that he was selected for Boys State for FL 2020.
@123Mom123 My son is pretty disappointed too. I hate that our kids are having all their plans disrupted like this but just trying to remain positive and grateful that they are healthy and safe.
@Momof3B and @123Mom123 - oh, no. This does not bode well for S21, who should hear from his Buckeye Boys State program by the 30th of this month. Will be disappointed if he does not get to go.
@burghdad Boys State and Girls State are summer weeklong programs run and sponsored by the American Legion. It basically brings together several thousand students (rising HS seniors) and they are taught the ins/outs of how government works. The students are broken down into smaller groups and they build a government from the ground up. Cities, prosecutors, judges, Mayors ect… By then end of the week, a Governor is elected. My son who had zero interest or knowledge of how government works had the time of his life. GREAT leadership building week.
Talked with my son this morning after discussing it with my college advisor friend and other friends whose kids have done it and he’s going to go ahead and participate in the virtual sessions. At this point, we don’t know exactly what those will look like or what the time commitment is, but he so already had this week blocked off so might as well.
He had turned down registering for Summer 1 Session of dual credit classes at our local community college because the start of the session was the same week as Boys State but we’ll see know if he can still register for a class, If he can get govt & econ out of the way this summer, he’ll have a much lighter load senior year.
So we did drive out to Lehigh yesterday. Obviously couldn’t go in the buildings, but campus is beautiful- the Hogwarts-type buildings D loves! The part of Bethlehem it’s in - not so much! Like it enough to keep it on the list and try to see it again when everything opens up, though I still think it’s going to be too Greek/party hard atmosphere for her.
It did remind me of Colgate, although Colgate more rural, and Colgate’s buildings are more cohesive- Lehigh has some of the unfortunate 70’s looking buildings mixed in!
There was a lot of construction going on - anyone off hand know what’s going on there?
@NJWrestlingmom One thing to note about Lehigh - the athletic fields and buildings are on the other side of the mountain. Coach said the kids carpool after class to get there. He said it as if it was a good thing as it helped the older kids bond with the younger. But, I’m a worrier and the idea of a bunch of high strung boys driving over a mountain on narrow icy roads every day really worries me…
@NJWrestlingmom Many years ago I went with my father and looked at Lehigh and Lafayette on the same day… I took one look at the hill to get from the dorms to the classrooms at Lehigh and I said to myself no way I am doing that multiple times a day. Lafayette a nice mostly flat campus won the day…I also liked the smaller liberal arts aspect of Lafayette.
Hahaha @burghdad the female perspective- no freshman 15! D had no problem with the hills! We had driven by Lafayette last month - hard no. Too close to home (even tho not that much closer to us than Lehigh) and the hilltop view of Pburg (Philips, no Pitt!) both thumbs down!
@HMom16 that makes sense because years ago we went to a Lehigh lax game with S17 and I swore I hadn’t seen campus that day!
@NJWrestlingmom Can’t see Pburg from the actual campus. You should take a stroll through the actual campus it is very beautiful … although I am biased…lol…
D’s 1.5 year relationship came to an end. This shelter in place has been very hard on her boyfriend. Not so much for introverted D. She was fine with few texting now and then, but he was not, it really highlighted that their needs and personalities are not matching up.
Covid 19 shined a spotlight on things that has been on D’s mind for a while now.
@TVBingeWatcher2 it sounds as if that might be the right and inevitable outcome in the long term for D and her boyfriend, but I’m sure it’s hard right now.
@TVBingeWatcher2 That sucks, hopefully she will be over it quickly. S was dump by his GF also during shelter in place and he was bummed for a couple of days and then was over it. I think it’s easier since they don’t have to see each other at school to get over it.
Here’s a link to Lehigh construction projects, and their Path to Prominence initiative. I don’t know all the details, but they are adding a College of Health and increasing number of undergrad students over the next several years. https://www1.lehigh.edu/path-prominence/evolution
