Pride: A Milestone Reached

On Saturday, our first born son, John, graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY (“RPI”)

Of course, we were in attendance, beaming with pride at the accomplishments of our son, who has grown from boy to confident young man before our eyes—a span of time that has seemed like a flash! Note to parents of young kids: everything “they” say about kids growing up fast is true.

As I stood there in the stadium, sweltering in the heat of a l-o-n-g ceremony, I couldn’t help but be transported back in time. Earliest memories of John as an infant coming home from the hospital to new parents who didn’t really know what we were doing, then progressing to all of the milestones associated with childhood. That first birthday. Raking leaves in the backyard with a rake twice his height. Countless Halloweens, Christmases, Easters’ and birthday parties. Little League, Boy Scouts, family vacations and precious moments on Branch Lake, swimming and fishing.

Yes, I remember the times of wrestling that little kid (when I could still “take” him—an ability that vanished after middle school)
There was even the memory when we first dropped John off at college four years ago, saying goodbye through the tears and setting John loose to fend for himself for the first time.

Through it all, we have seen him mature and grow, both physically and emotionally. Always an excellent student and hard-working athlete, we were nonetheless highly impressed at John’s ability to navigate courses at RPI that I could hardly pronounce, let alone slog through! When the tests came fast and furious, it was tempting to comfort him with a statement like: “John, it’s not rocket science!”

Unfortunately, as an aeronautical engineer, it was indeed rocket science.
Nice try, Dad.

Combining that curriculum with mechanical engineering for a dual degree and competing as an NCAA athlete on the track team, his mother and I marveled at how John somehow kept all the plates spinning.

For those not familiar with the oldest technological school in the country, here’s a short video:



http://www.youtube.com/user/rpirensselaer?blend=8&ob=5

I feel stupid.
Make that stupider.

Since Saturday’s Commencement, our friends have congratulated US—and we too have joked about not having to write yearly checks to RPI that could buy a fleet of Mercedes SUV's, but it is still hard to believe that these four college years have flown by so fast.

The college years are an opportunity for huge growth—and much of it happens outside the classroom. Unlike my tour of duty at The Ohio State University, I suspect that John studied just a TAD harder than his old man did. To ask if John “enjoyed” RPI might be the wrong question. Hard to say you’ve “enjoyed” endless studying, exams and brain-bursting classroom sessions. Perhaps better to ask if it was all worthwhile.

John will have to answer that one himself, but from a parent’s perspective, we couldn’t be more thrilled and proud that John absolutely made the most of his college years—and all jokes about the cost aside, Peggy and I are convinced that it’s the best money we could spend—to give our kids the education that will impact their lives and give them a range of choices that would be severely limited without it.

Now comes the victory lap! Some well earned time off, a trip to Vegas with his buddies-and then a terrific position at Sikorsky Helicopter in Connecticut await.

John, you’re earned every bit of it—and your Mom and I cannot convey in words how proud of you we are—and how much we love you!

Congratulations, John!


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