A Happier Experience

I spent last Thursday night and Friday traveling with my high school senior to visit the University of Michigan where she’ll be attending school this fall. I couldn’t help but reflect on the differences between this trip and those of last spring when we were on the college tour circuit. As I’ve written about already, those trips were fraught with emotion, and most of the emotions were negative. The disappointment and frustration I felt by my daughter’s seeming lack of interest and engagement in this critical process was enough to keep me up at night. The upside of those experiences is that they inspired me to write a book about the college application process – a book that is being written from the perspective of parents and their kids.

Forward almost a year later and I’m thrilled to report that this recent trip was a true pleasure. Not only did my daughter and I genuinely enjoy our time together, I was able to see how she’s grown and how ready she is for college. Of course it helps that on this visit to Michigan she wasn’t walking the campus as a prospective applicant. Now she walked across the Diag and throughout the Union with confidence and wide-open eyes. As an admitted student, she allowed herself to take it all in and imagine herself there this fall with an armload of books, surrounded by new friends. I feel so fortunate that everything has worked out, and all the stress about submitting applications and whether she’d get into the schools she applied is now a thing of the past.

Spending eight intense hours on campus listening to students and faculty talk about the virtues of the University of Michigan was a valuable experience. I am so impressed by all the tour guides and Campus Day leaders who introduced themselves and encouraged the high school seniors to make the most of their time there. It seemed as if every college student we met has multiple majors and is involved in multiple activities. Everyone is involved in some kind of sport, community service group and campus organization. On top of that, many hold part-time jobs. How they find time to do so much boggles my mind.

I wonder, will my daughter become that involved? Will she push herself academically and move beyond her comfort zone? Only time will tell, but based on the fact that she’ll soon be attending this University I’m encouraged. Today’s college students all seem so confident and motivated and capable. I’m excited for my daughter’s college career to begin and to observe what she gains from the experience.

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