<p>My son has just completed his first semester at the University of Florida. Actually, you might say it was his second semester.
He attended the summer session, which got him aclimated to college life and introduced him to a lot of other students on campus. Anyway, my normally fairly introverted son is coming out of shell in ways that surprised me. He is involved with activities and has a strong social life. He is just as committed to his studies as he was during the last 2 years of high school and believes he will have a 4.0 average after the first semester. </p>
<p>He is on his way home now for almost a month. I am so proud of him I can hardly contain myself. I am looking forward to spending the hoiidays with him. We have tickets to hockey games, a football game, etc, will be visiting Disney, Busch Gardens, etc.</p>
<p>A few weeks ago he told us that he knows UF is the perfect place for him. He applied to 8 colleges, was accepted at 7.<br>
We proudly fly our Gator flag at home. </p>
<p>I am hoping that parents of high school seniors read this message and it helps allay some of their fears and anxiety about the future. Touring colleges and going through the process can be tough, but for us it was all a worthwhile and rewarding. Once the college decision is made and they get started at school, life gets a lot easier. </p>
<p>My DD will be coming home from east coast school to the midwest in 2 days for the first time since Aug. Like you, I dont think my D's first semester could have gone any better. We were somewhat apprehensive when we droped her off last fall. She had dreamed of attending Harvard since grade school and was ultimately rejected in June from the waitlist. She had reasons for choosing the school (State University) she ended up at, but I was concerned if it was the right fit.</p>
<p>Everytime we talk, I am more convinced it was the right choice. She's adjusted well to sharing a room with others after always having her own room. She has made lots of friends, and is carrying all A's going into finals. She even likes the food. The telling sign was when she refered to the school as "my school". </p>
<p>We too are planning lots of activities and she is making plans of her own. Having a college student return, makes the Holidays that much more special. I am going to just try to relax and just enjoy having her home.</p>
<p>gnu, great report!!! D is home , too with wonderful tales of her own (which appear to be coming out at some breakneck speed :eek:). Glad to hear it. A whole month at home?</p>
<p>Warning : Bad Pun Ahead- I hope he wont get to be a gnu-sance. <em>groan</em>.</p>
<p>Our son arrives home next week for 2 weeks. He's attending school in Indiana and we live in Germany so we haven't seen him since we left to board our plane to fly home in August. We can't wait to see him and see how he's changed and grown.</p>
<p>We asked him if he was where he was supposed to be (during our intial phone calls to him in the dorm in September), was he happy? He always replied in the affirmative. After the 3rd phone call he preempted me and said,"Mom, before you ask...I'm where I'm supposed to be. I really like it here. I love my classes and the professors are great. I am very happy with the choice I made." What a relief for us to hear.</p>
<p>Soph. S's last exam is today. He won't come home until next week as he has to work and is staying to see some friends graduate and be commissioned into the Navy. He said he walked out of his Chem. exam with a big smile on his face knowing he would never take Chem. again as long as he lives!</p>
<p>Hi - Doddsmom! Long time, no see. Glad to hear Doddson is doing well. We miss Germany most, I think, during December. Have some Glühwein for me!</p>
<p>S2 comes home next Thursday, for 3 weeks. S1 comes that Saturday, for five days. First time they will have seen each other since last Christmas. S2 gets a wisdom tooth out day after Christmas, so I don't know how much company he will be. (He has a gig on Christmas Eve, so had to put the surgery off.) My entire family (mom, 3 sisters, and their families) will be here. I can't wait!!!</p>