My son...the one that said he was NOT going to college has a 3.6 GPA and is on the Honor Roll! I am so proud of him and just beside myself!! Girls this is amazing!
I just want to share with you that this was a child that struggled from 3rd grade. I home schooled him in 6th grade. He went back to school for 7th and 8th grade and my husband home schooled him through high school. You see...he is a smart kid! It's just that all children DO NOT learn alike. After having three grown children and observing how they learned and studied, I firmly believe our education system is doing it ALL wrong. We need schools for those that learn by doing hands on projects can learn that way, those that need a little bit more help or can't do it ALL but have mastered the basics need to be encouraged that that's okay and as they grow they will learn more on this same subject. After going through this with Dustin, I am a huge fan of two high schools curriculums. One for the academic child or one who strives to be more academic and one for those that want to learn a trade or learn more by doing so that when they leave high school they can go get a job right away. We need our carpenters, electricians, chefs, designers, home decorators, painters, etc for our world to function and they all DO NOT need a college education right out of high school.
As for Dustin, we always listened to his "I am not going to college". We would say "one day you may change your mind" but otherwise there are many jobs where you can make enough money to support a family without it. We encouraged him to look into the construction trades because many of the men in that industry make very good money to support themselves and their families. After high school he went to work and tried to pay for a nice truck, gas, insurance, cell phone, going out, clothes etc. and found out that it costs more to live on your own than he thought and that he could not afford all that he wanted working at a basic job getting a little more than minimum wage.
It's truly a "GOD thing" to have him where he is today. He decided he wanted to study graphic design so that he could design t-shirts and clothing. He is chose the Art Institute and is studying graphic design and he is GOOD!!! His projects are amazing and he works hard at his school work and doesn't complain. He is learning to please the teachers he doesn't agree with or jell with and do what he needs to pass the class. Most of his classes he has enjoyed but you know there are always the teachers who are....well you know.
Thanks for listening to my rant. Just remember to encourage your children in everything they do and that our role as parents is bring them up to be responsible adults who can function in the world we live in. We have the privilege to raise them in our faith, with our values and sometimes it's easier than others. So most of all, young moms and dads, enjoy your children, have fun with your children and help them to succeed in life at whatever they want to pursue and just maybe it will be with a college degree but if not...then encourage them to be the best that they can be and to care about others and to love their family. That's what we've done and boy am I a proud mama!! Congrats Dustin! Keep up the good work and I love you so much! So does your dad!
***A couple projects he had to do at school are shown above with a photo of him with sweet Bella.
