We are Proud to announce that Brandon has earned the right to participate in Graduation             June 5, 2007!!! 

 

 

I just received a phone call from his High School Guidance Counselor that he passed all of his finals, turned in ALL of his homework AND completed his term paper ON TIME. The grade he received on his term paper was an A+. 

Now I'm VERY certain that when I tell you this, as Parents, you will NOT be shocked at what I'm about to say because you've been there, done that or are doing it as you read this............

During Brandon's school career, I have spent HOURS upon HOURS reading assigned books for opinion papers, wrote book reports, term papers, etc.  I typed until the wee hours of the morning; read, re-read, proof-read, and printed out more copies of papers than I normally do during my own working hours. I truly learned how to surf the net while doing these projects, but I digress. I learned, relearned, questioned,  and challenged the things I learned going through High School a second time with him.  The girls did their homework, so I never had issues with them.  They did their work, got the grades, and graduated. BOOM.....nothing to it!

As a child with ADHD, Brandon was not a learning challenged child; his IQ is 158. He always seemed to pull off miracles  at the 11th hour (but then again, I don't think it matters whether or not ADHD played a role...it's being an adolescent) and not tell me what he did for days, weeks later. Once he mastered a task, he wanted to move on and be challenged.  If he grew restless from repetitive work and assignments, he got into trouble(but again, think teen!).

The Middle school and first years of High School I think were the worst.  Raging hormones, impulse control issues, getting injured playing sports seemed to plague him. The first marking period he'd do OK, then slide down hill from there.  Failure notices would come weekly in the mail(they stopped giving them to him knowing he wouldn't give them to me). Brandon would tell the Guidance Counselor he would rather go to summer school than worry about passing the year; and he was quite the student at summer school. He excelled there and why??? No homework.

After the numerous arguments, screaming fights, and tears,  finally, the moment of truth is here!!! I am graduating from High School again!!! My class ranking is lower than the first time around, but I concluded that my age was factored in the GPA.  I've called in a ringer to accept my diploma..his name....Brandon. 

While I do not want his career path, I support him in it.  He has chosen to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. I will endure 4 more years of stress, wondering when he'll be shipped over and when he will come walking home again.

Even after all of this, I will be the loudest one cheering for him ...I'll be the one with tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face.  I am and will remain very proud of him. 

What's your best Graduation story???

Enjoy your day!  Cheryl