@AmyIzzy, Iāll bite. My D is a vocal performance college rising sophomore. During her HS rising senior summer, D went to the Oberlin vocal academy. We thought it was a good idea for her to enroll so she could sharpen her songs for the college audition season. We live overseas so she arrived early based on her flight schedule. She toured the deserted campus with the resident counselor. The next morning, my wife and I video chatted with her. When asked if she liked the school, she said it was kind of neat but that she did not see herself spending the next four years at Oberlin. The program is only a week but while days passed by, meeting peers, faculty and her assigned teacher, she changed her mind. Her teacher was telling her the right things at the right time and she felt very flattered. My wife and I flew to attend the program recital and to pick her up. During our visit D assured us that Oberlin was the place for her. I was still skeptic on everything that was going on thinking after the heavy recruiting will she be able to handle it after the honeymoon period is over?, too far from home?, academic reach?, first class talent competition?, money?, rural Ohio?
The next day after the end of program recital we decided to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland to spend the day. Later on we drove back to the hotel in Elyria to freshen up and have an early dinner at the restaurant next to the hotel, Cracker Barrel, before flying back home the next day early in the morning. We are having an ordinary dinner with our D and speaking our most comfortable language, Spanish. Halfway through our dinner, a gentleman, my guess in his fifties, stood up from a neighboring table and directed his attention to us while the rest of his dinner party left the place. He politely asked us if we spoke English. After we all answered yes while confused (at the moment I had no idea where this was going or his intent) he started talking about himself and trying to validate his knowledge in music.
He said he worked in the music business for thirty years and had a vast knowledge in talent and music. He mentioned he specifically worked with three musicians inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame (no names mentioned). The conversation is only one way, we have not said a word and my head is spinning āwhy is he telling me all of this?ā I look at my D and I see that she is wearing an Oberlin sweatshirt so Iām wondering, is this is what he is getting into? Even though he is talking about a completely different genre is he sales pitching Oberlin? Then after he finishes validating himself, he finally says, āI just want you to know that I know music and talent and want to say that your daughter sings like an angel, thatās all.ā We all joyfully thanked him for his compliment while confused (where did he listened my D sing?) he smiled and left before I was able to react in inviting him for dessert or even asking his name.
āWere you singing at the dinner table againā I asked my D. She did not remember doing it. My wife did not remember her singing at the table. Neither did I. She could have been singing, she always does, everywhere, anywhere. She sings home, in the bathroom, in the car, at dinner. I guess we sometimes take it for granted and donāt even remember her doing it. This gentleman took notice and gave her a wonderful compliment. At that moment my wife and I agreed on one thing, maybe Oberlin in rural Ohio is not a bad place for our D to spend the next four years of her life and gave D our blessing for applying to the school and have it as her first choice.
Thankfully Oberlin came through with an acceptance and a generous financial aid package. Little do they know that a complete stranger we met in Elyria Ohio and his wonderful gesture and compliment placed the drop that tilted the balance to their side.
Now - if I could just click my heels and be where you are today. But then again, itās all about the journey, right? I am so grateful to all the amazing information that you have all generously shared. Itās like the journey is not the big, bad, scary wolf anymore. We hope to see your talented kids in the hallway of our tours next year - and SpartanDrew, I promise I will pet one of those cats at Frost for you.