As final “word” is heard for the class of 2023 I am reminded what a long (strange) trip this has been for the class of 2022. Two years ago I took the big college tour with my D - we met accepted students on their decision-making visits and she made some big decisions of her own. No stand-alone conservatories, no rural schools, no homogenous student bodies, yes to pre-professional training, yes to diverse schools in or near big cities. We had no idea how much those inital visit-based decisions would limit us and guide us. We just knew what felt right for her. Then came the madness. Test prep, prescreens, applications, schedule juggling. I hated every minute of BFA applications, even with the invaluable help of her coaches. Then came auditions and the great wait. The heartbreaking rejections and the salvation of a great yes. That was a year ago. Over the past year she’s gone from applicant to student and that journey has been hers alone - I am just an observer and appreciative audience of what little she lets fall about her life, her community and her training. So the arc is really complete - it started with us traveling together and now she’s flying solo. Even after almost a full year of college the mom in me always wants to check in, to make sure she’s fine - I think the difficulty and anxiety of applications damaged us both a little. I keep waiting for that feeling to go away. I hear about class of 2022ers transferring, leaving school, finding their programs wanting, changing majors. I know it’s just part of the arc - the applicants all start out looking as if they have the same goals and ambitions but they end up on wildly diverging paths. Their parents, like me, look on - ready to help when needed but fully aware of how little their efforts matter in the end result.
The BFA kids are launched.