He's Ready; And We Might Be Too!

Oh Senior Year, it's been a ride for sure. From a whirlwind first semester of playing soccer, taking tough classes and then applying to colleges to a more relaxed second semester full of waiting, some fun and more soccer than he'd really like to play (did I ever think that I'd be writing that?).

The class of 2025 is apparently the largest class by a few hundred compared to the highest peak of the baby boomers. That means more applications than these colleges were expecting or that they can deal with in a timely manner. So that means - more pushed back early action notifications and a whole lot of deferrals. Austen has had his fair share of those - five to be exact. Due to his high school soccer season going a lot longer than we expected (a good problem to have), we had to cancel many college visits that we had planned so trying to get in a few more before March/April. 

Tom and Austen actually just came back from visiting the University of Tennessee, and it's now top of his list although super competitive from our area as there are a lot of kids applying there - hopefully not in architecture! His number one has always been Michigan (although a huge reach school for him) and he said it rivals Michigan. Big statement from Austen. While he was waiting for his flight home from Knoxville, he did find out that he did get into the University of Illinois and the University of Maryland too for architecture. Two great options as well coupled with his other acceptances from Miami of Ohio and Iowa State (and some money too). Still waiting on the deferrals plus a few more schools and that waiting game is long - probably not til the end of March. Hopefully before spring break he'll know - so he can celebrate he says.

This kid is ready for college. Ready to experience different things, ready to be on his own and ready to be around kids his own age 24-7. I'm kind of ready too. He's definitely become more independent and vocal about what he wants to do (lots of going out with his friends) and less about traveling every weekend for soccer. I get that but I get it more because some of the things happening with his club team this season. That's a story for a different blog but I get it. I get all of it actually, and I get why he's less than thrilled to give up his weekends for a team that's not the same anymore. I'm sad about that because it could have been different but I'm not sad about seeing him transition to this next phase of his life. Sure I will miss him. Our family dynamic will change. I will miss the busyness that his travel schedule brought to our life but I'm ready to see him enjoy this next chapter. 

I've been asked if I'm getting sad - that he's almost gone. That he won't play soccer like this again. I toss that around in my mind and I know that I will miss seeing him play, the times we spent traveling with his teams and the friendships that we've made along the way. But I'm not sad (at least not yet). I'm excited for this next part of his journey. Those things were all just part of his story. To get him to this point. I'm not sure how I will feel the day that I drop him off at college but I know he's ready and that makes me ready to let him go too. 

But not before we get to enjoy spring break in Belize, prom and graduation. Then of course there's summertime too!