Familee

My cell phone rang in the morning while Chad and I were in Santa Barbara. (I was at a photography workshop.) It was Trent. He said to put him on speaker phone so both Chad and I could hear. My first response was, "Is it bad." He said no. Here how the conversation went in a nutshell:

Trent: I have been looking at other options for schools to get my MBA besides University of Phoenix. There is a school that has accepted my application mainly on my work experience. It will cost about the same as Univ. of Phoenix. It is a program where I can take half of the classes on line and half of them I will take at their university.

Me: So, where is the other college?

Trent: It's in Cambridge.

Me: Isn't that in Boston?

There was a pause...

Me: Isn't that....Harvard! You mean Harvard!

Trent: Yea, it is.

There were cheers, screams and many joyous sounds and I could hardly contain myself! But I had too. It was his story to tell and I didn't want take it from him. However, he won't hardly tell anyone so I have taken on that duty.

He keeps saying it is 'no big deal' but I say it is a big deal. Here is why...

In elementary school, his second grade teacher wanted to put him in the reading improvement program (with the 'not-so-smart' kids). I refused. Instead we put him in tutoring programs like Sylvan. Chad's mother said, "Spend his college education money now to get him through school". He never really enjoyed school and pulled the grades he needed to finish. But we didn't think college was ever anything he would want to go on to. I think Sesily has been a big influence and encouraged him to go to college.

I also believe our financial crisis helped Trent to see just how important an education is. If he were to lose everything, without an education, what kind of job could he get that would support a family. It was at that time that he started University of Phoenix and has gone year around to finish - which he will in May.

But, Trent tells us that he is not officially accepted into the program until he passes the first three classes with a 'B' average. He also says it is a masters of management program specially for business owners which is different than a MBA.

Plans are very tentative but they are thinking of going to Boston for the first semester starting in August. He will come home and take the other courses on line and then has to finish the last semester back on campus in Boston.

Isn't that so exciting for them! What a great opportunity. We are really proud of his accomplishments and whether he finishes at University of Phoenix or Harvard, we couldn't be more pleased with the good person he is.