Turning Red

Monday night during a rare quiet moment in our house, Jude and talked with Joe about where he wanted to go to school next year.  USN or MBA.  I think we knew his answer - MBA - but we wanted him to articulate it.  We also wanted him to acknowledge he had thought about how hard he is going to have to work to succeed at MBA.  I think we wanted his buy in.  At least I did. 

Like my longtime friend, John Rowland, said to me at Don Smith's memorial service early last fall, MBA is a competition every day.  Academically,  athletically, and socially.  He's right.  It seems to me, though, that boys grow strong in a cauldron of competition and emerge, as graduates, better prepared to succeed in college and in life.  That's my hope, anyway.

Joe told us he thinks MBA will require him to work hard every day and that he's ready for it.  I suggested he continue improving his study habits and discipline during his last few months at USN in preparation for seventh grade at MBA.  He agreed that might be a good idea.  

I think Jude and I wanted to know, from Joe, that he wants to go to MBA.  That he wants to be challenged.   That he's ready to be challenged.  In a way, that he's ready to grow up.  From a relatively care free preteen to an organized, driven, goal oriented middle school student.  A lot of work and not nearly as much play.  That's the deal.

The reality, of course, is middle school at USN likely would have been significantly harder than lower school has been.  That's just the nature of things at a top notch independent school.  Beginning in seventh grade, it's time to grind and start to build the study skills that will stand you in good stead in college and beyond.  Sure, he likely would have been doing those things in a familiar environment at USN, which will not be the case at MBA.  Still, Joe will have JP at MBA (and JP's friends) and a whole crew of boys learning on the fly just like he will be doing. 

I think it's going to be important to make a real effort to see that Joe stays connected, socially, with the boys in the crew.  He needs to do more with them than play sports.  Sadly, his best friend, Pike, decided not to apply to MBA, so he won't be there with him, at least not next year.  Jude and I need to see that he stays connected with his buddies from USN and Harding that are going to MBA next year from a social standpoint - hanging out, sleepovers, etc. - rather than just by playing basketball and soccer with them.  

I'll write more about USN and our time there as a family, I know, but not today.  By my count, we have had a 10 year run at USN which, by and large, has been productive and positive. 

For now, though, Joe is turning Red.