<p>Graduation is in a few days. I'm thrilled that my daughter has made it through and is headed to a college she's thrilled about in the fall, but I'm sad that my association with the school is ending. No more Parents Days, drop offs, concerts, frequent short visits (she's under an hour away). Sure she's starting a new set of these things, but college just isn't the same for a parent. And for her, her friends will scatter all over the world (though several of them will go to the same college). Anyone else in the wistful camp?</p>
<p>Not yet…but sounds like you’ve done a marvelous job to have such a well-adjusted kid whose happy with her choice of colleges. I would imagine that having a college bound student could be just as exciting (as BS) for parents.
I’ve enjoyed all your thoughtful posts, Lemonade1, and hope you will continue to contribute to this forum on secondary schools. Great job! Hope my son too will find a college he is excited to attend.</p>
<p>Ditto.</p>
<p>Congrats, Lemonade1. It’s a turning point for sure, but although the opportunities are fewer, they are still there. I have one in college and there are still art shows, and sports opportunities, etc. </p>
<p>Although I get what you’re saying. Having the other overseas really punctuated how much we missed going to parent weekends and other school activities.</p>
<p>You did a great job. Sending hugs as you push your baby bird out in to the world. We’ll be right behind you as we embark on the dreadfully stressful senior year odyssey and the fact that most of her college choices are hundreds of miles away from home.</p>
<p>Yes; graduation is bittersweat. I think, however, that it is mostly bitter because you and your child now face the great unknown. If my memory holds, the only two days of my adult life that I openly and unabashedly cried in public was on the day by brother died violently and the day I graduated from prep school. My life in prep school was as perfect and as glorious as any four years could have been. Although I may have cried for joy at graduation, I really think, looking back over 40 years ago, that I cried in fear of the future and knowing that life would never be as wonderful, care free and exciting as my past four years. I was right. </p>
<p>So I now fear for my son; however, I hope that his prep school and his parents have prepared him for the tough times to come. I know that his school and we have tried; I tremble with the haunting fear that all of us have failed. In the end, however, only my son can make his world wonderful or exciting. So my hopes, fears and tears are really misplaced or unnecessary. Still, I know things will be tougher for my son after graduation. There is not much sweetness in this thought.</p>
<p>May he always say, in the words of one of the seven wise men, Bias of Priene: “Omnia mea mecum porto.” (All that is mine, I carry with me.)</p>
<p>Haven’t been on this board in ages! But we just returned a few days ago from S prep graduation. Hubbie and I have said nearly everyday since graduation that we will miss the affiliation with his BS. This from a family that visited 2 maybe 3 times a year. It really is an amazing environment and I will miss it.</p>
<p>Hopefully the next 4 years at university will be as rewarding for him and us as his parents!</p>
<p>I attended my son’s graduation earlier this month. Unlike me, my son found his graduation sweet, not bitter. But then, he led his class in its senior prank two days before graduation; the prank went sideways (too many kids were in on the prank and things got out of control), the school got mad (maybe even real mad) and my son stood up and took a large slice of the blame for the prank. In the end, he was happy that his school didn’t deny him his diploma but let him graduate. So, his graduation was sweet, very sweet…not bittersweet.</p>
<p>Oh well, my son is on to college now. I hope that he has left his childish, prankish behavior behind him. If not, I will be bitter.</p>
<p>My daughter’s recent graduation was indeed bittersweet, as well. She lamented she would never have that kind of experience again. I was forced to agree with her. She will be taking some of her friends with her, as 8 - 10 of her classmates are going to the same University along with her. Still, as you have all noted, there will never be another experience as intense or as carefree (in a sense) as the past four years have been. I too will miss the concerts and the campus very much. There are always bumps in the road during high school, but the pluses have tremendously outweighed the difficulties. </p>
<p>I personally have never seen high school students so broken up about leaving public high schools as in these private schools, and especially boarding schools. It is a very intense experience, and one I’m very glad my children have been able to have.</p>