Finally after months of preparation including filling out mounds of financial aid forms, sifting though Petersons Guide to Four Year Colleges, and juggling untold numbers of class schedules, she is nearly packed and ready to go. The parking permit, football tickets, and books have been ordered. As the appointed day of destiny approaches, I face the moment with mixed emotions of pride, sadness, excitement, and even fear. From the first morning of kindergarten as I walked Leah into the building holding her hand tight to her recent high school graduation, I have always been near by. And now she is gaining the freedom of distance that will open new avenues of adventure.
College provides much more than mere classroom learning.
She will no doubt experience the trials and tribulations of dorm living including disorganized room mates, community bathrooms, and loud music blasting late at night. Cramped quarters teach valuable lessons of common courtesy and responsibility. Balancing a thirty-five pound bookbag on her back while running full speed to class will become second nature. And she may even discover the joys of avoiding the laundromat by wearing sweatshirts turned inside out when the right side is dirty. Planning for college has never been easier thanks to the public library.