I’m going off piste, not writing about branding today, because my son graduates one month from today and I’d like to give him a father’s report card.
I’m sure you have friends who go on about the successes of their children: honor society, leading scorer, singing at the county recitals, internship at a big accounting firm in the city, etc. Then there are “listener” and “nodder” parents. Those who listen and nod because their children aren’t on the dean’s list, they text with misspellings, need to be prodded to do chores, tend to be more rebellious. The listener and nodders are the ones at parties who say things like “our job as parents is to get the ready for the real world, give them a good sense of what is right and wrong.”
With my son being one month away from graduating, here is his fatherly report card. And, as a listener/nodder I say this with great and deep pride.
It took him a good while to take advantage of his college education. Let’s call it holistic education rather than an intense, 4 year academic one. With one month to go, he can reason. He can organize thoughts into supported positions. His world view could be greater (had be studied and read more) but he can array his supports around fact, not just opinion. He’s always known how to be convincing and logical but is now moving closer to capturing that skill on paper. He understands bias and though not always easy, he recognizes how it contributes to unfairness.
This is a young man that will not endanger others. Or let others endanger others. He understands what is lawful and what is not. He is beginning to “get” consequences, even though his father has tried to shield him from them for years.
Always independent, he is learning to understand the importance of community and consensus. He is beginning to really see what love is about. And how powerful and compelling an emotion it can be. And I believe he is seeing that humor has its place but also its translations.
Has he read Keirkegaardt? Maybe not. Will he land on his feet? Always has. Will he get along with all kinds of people as a post grad? I’m betting so.
With one month out, in the last mile of his college education, I believe my boy is ready. He may own a pair of sticky soled party sneakers, but he knows when to put them away and when to wear adult hiking boots. The boots he will use on the trail toward his exciting, fruitful future.
Love you Biggie. Peace!
PS. Thanks to all the Plattsburgh professors who joined in this journey.