<p>Good for him. 18 is too damned young to be thinking you're ready to settle down with anyone. I did it at 30 and blew it.</p>
<p>Let him concentrate on the important stuff. Girls ain't it.</p>
<p>Now is not the time for the womenz.</p>
<p>And seriously, what is it about people and talking about marriage the minute they get in a relationship. You're allowed to think it, as most people tend to date like they'd marry. However, that doesn't mean every relationship should be a pre-planned roadmap to marriage, nor that you should even think of discussing such things until a serious relationship develops.</p>
<p>I had a conversation with my son about this same topic Monday morning. He is not even concerned that he may not go to prom. He went last year and also the last two Homecoming Dances. These events seem so unimportant to him. He seems to see the bigger picture.............he said "you know mom, I will probabely only see a handful of my classmates after I leave for the AFA."<br>
While trying to raise three sons, my husband and I have always stressed the importance of being "real" and keeping focused on the future. We see it all to often the number of kids who live for the moment and have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.</p>
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he said "you know mom, I will probabely only see a handful of my classmates after I leave for the AFA."
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<p>Amen. Happened to me, and I'm not complaining in the slightest.</p>
<p>I dunno...Thanks to things like cell phones, Facebook, and AIM, I still keep in contact with a good amount of my friends. True it's only a small amount of the people I knew in HS, but it's still nice to talk to them. We were a closely knit group. I expect I'll find the same thing with my shipmates at USNA.</p>
<p>We are having similar conversations here too. Our son's prom is tomorrow night and he is going with a wonderful girl - they both enjoy each others' company but understand this is a finite thing...he is off to USNA in June and she is off to NYU in the fall. </p>
<p>They both seem to realize that their lives will change dramatically in the next year. I know my son hopes they can stay in touch as friends, and maybe even see each other once in awhile but that's about it.</p>
<p>Our house is glad Prom is over too and that everyone had a good time without any mishaps. Now senioritis problems are only about who he will miss after graduation - while taking practice AP's for Bio and Chemistry he states this is a joke - too easy! He calculates each year about what is the lowest score he can get on finals and still receive that A. ( A calc I never needed to figure - hardly any A's for me) So a few tears for memory sake and more walking around in those low quarters and before you know it June 26th! Good luck to all and hope to see you at R day.</p>
<p>Jake has no tears about leaving his classmates! That actually bugs him a lot. He just wanted some fun times before leaving. He is kind of short tempered with his "single-serving friends" because they are requesting more time than he wants to give now. He will bring his pictures of all his dates and tuck them in his wallet.</p>
<p>Whew! Prom is over and everyone is home intact. Now we're in the final stretch - finals, graduation, and a short month of summer before the world changes forever.</p>
<p>I think this generation will stay in closer contact with their high school friends than ours did, thanks to my space/face book and cell phones. We only had snail mail and land lines so it was easy to get out of touch. I crack up thinking about hand writing letters and waiting weeks for return letters from high school friends in my college dorm mailbox when I watch my kid multi task on the PC - doing homework to the soundtrack of his i tunes while simultaneously conversing with his my space friends! They are never out of touch with each other!</p>
<p>The fun is over, my son got tagged today. Maybe know he can get his head back in the studying game.</p>
<p>Sacto Mom,</p>
<p>You just reminded me of standing in line on Sunday nights to call home for 3-5 minutes from the only pay phone on my dorm floor. The long distance calls were least expensive on Sunday nights and all the other 40 girls were waiting for their turn on the phone.</p>
<p>Yes, it's funny to think about how important pay phones were at one time. We always had dimes in our pockets in case we needed to make a call! Who can remember the last time they actually used one?</p>
<p>Since this thread is talking about high school senior events, I thought I would share a story that I think this group can appreciate more than anyone.</p>
<p>Yesterday was our son's high school senior awards ceremony. This even was to recognize honors earned in high school and scholarships to college - NOT to announce where the seniors were going to college.</p>
<p>There were 170 students honored. They were each called up in alphabetical order to receive their certificates and pins and return to their seats. One hundred sixty eight seniors were called up in this manner, including the class valedictorian, to receive their impressive accolades - full ride scholarships to prestigious universities, national merit scholars, etc.</p>
<p>Two students, however, received special recognition. When their turn came, these two students were asked to remain at the stage after their honors had been announced - for a special guest presentation in their honor. You have probably guessed what made these two students special - they were appointees to service academies (one to USNA, one to USMA).</p>
<p>The special guest speakers were the students' academy liaison officers, who each gave a speech explaining not only the outstanding accomplishment they had achieved by receiving an appointment, but more importantly, the significance of their self sacrificing service to their country. Both young men received rousing applause from the 500+ people in the room.</p>
<p>After the ceremony, they were both ambushed by students and adults alike, congratulating them on their accomplishment and thanking them for serving their country. I was touched by the respectful, almost reverential, manner in which they were treated.</p>
<p>We were totally unprepared for our son to be honored in this way. We live in a liberal community in a predominantly liberal state and frankly these two boys have often joked that they felt a little out of place in this largely liberal leaning school. But the school community's collective salute to their commitment to service was sincere and moving.</p>
<p>It is so gratifying to see the appreciation given to these young people for their dedication to their country. I hope this support and gratitude will sustain our son in the months and years ahead.</p>
<p>Last year at my high school's awards ceremony a girl who was appointed to (and is now a plebe at) USMA recieved a standing ovation when she recieved her award. Again, her (and my) liason officer spoke a few words about the accomplishment. I was not able to attend, but my sister (who graduated last year) and my parents all went and when they returned relayed that story to me. It is good to know, as you said, that in a state even as liberal as Oregon people still have some respect for the military.</p>
<p>sacto mom- we, too, shared a similiar experience- at it was wonderful. Hope your son enjoys every minute of it- along with his proud parents! Congratulations!</p>
<p>Our BGO gets to have double the fun at the award ceremony because Jake and his friend both are going to the Academy. He had a good year!</p>
<p>OM- how wonderful- for the BGO with 2 successful candidates, and Jake who will have a friendly face with him!</p>
<p>Our BGO was pleased as well- the thorpedo will be the first from our high school ever to attend Navy, and already there are 3 others looking to follow in his footsteps! His BGO is thrilled!</p>
<p>So...it sounds like some of you found out about this in advance. Neither our school or our BGO told us about this ahead of time. We were completely clueless!</p>
<p>My son's Senior Awards's Night was special as he was recognized as receiving an appointment to USMA. Also 2 classmates and close friends and football teammates were recognized as receiving appointments to USNA. Another received recognization for an appointment to USMMA. Four service academy appointments from one high school class was quite an accomplishment. As they saved these recognitions until last, they were able to end the night on a high point. Each received a standing ovation for their accomplishments.</p>
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So...it sounds like some of you found out about this in advance. Neither our school or our BGO told us about this ahead of time. We were completely clueless!
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<p>actually, no.<br>
The BGO called the parents to inquire about senior awards, and the rest was handeled through, what I assume, was the foundation program. He is a retired marine, and the little speech he gave was very touching. It came as a complete surprise to everyone, and I might add, it was the only event that got everyone on their feet- and many who have followed our kid since pre-k, to tears. A very, very proud moment for sure!</p>
<p>Our ALO for AF has called us to inquire about the awards presentation as well.</p>