Growing Up

 You've been a bit down in the dumps this week.  I think you are simply stressed about not getting into ASCTE. Your  Interview was incredible and you worked very hard on it. Everyone says how grown up you seem and how much you showed your sense of humor and personality.  I don't know what kind of kid that school wants if they don't want you.  But I pray and a lot of people are praying for you to get into that school.  I ask God leads you down the right path to a school that is right for you, that builds you up, helps you grow and be successful, and that offers you the opportunities that you need to be your very best.  We are excited and nervous too.  Dad wrote you this email today to let you know, whatever is going on, we have your back.

"Have a great day today!  I wanted to let you know how proud of you I am.  I am proud of who you are and who you are becoming.  Keep being your genuine self and true to yourself, don't bend or change to be accepted by others.  This time in your life is going to be a challenge, because you (and everyone around you) is struggling to find themselves.  If you find yourself in that struggle, take a moment, separate yourself from the crowd for a minute and breathe (like mom says :) ).  It will pass.  Dad struggled A LOT during his high school years, and I learned the hard way that if you don't focus on figuring yourself out you end up bouncing around and changing back and forth and pushing everyone away.  But, in the end, the people in school don't really matter at all, the odds of being friends with them later in life is almost zero.  Your comment last night, about wanting to live at the school, is what made me think of this.  I want you to live with us so when you have bad days, or big questions I am there to answer them for you and help you through them.  You are reading Lord of the Flies, and in that book, what happens on the island is what happens when kids try to teach kids how to grow up.  They needed adults who had been through it and could see the other side.  Anyway, I love you bud and we are always here for you.  As you move through these teen years I need you to always, always be willing to come to mom or dad and talk to us without the fear of getting in trouble."