Thanksgiving 2018

On Thanksgiving Day, we clicked “Submit” on the University of California application for freshmen entering college in the fall of 2019. It was always the plan to submit in Thanksgiving break, but as the day came closer, I was already beginning to miss the journey. My teen’s journey over the rocky paths and through the charming vistas that is high school, was slowly inching towards its final destination.

It has very much been my journey as well! Version 2.0, about three decades since the first release. Some things remained unchanged but a whole lot is different. A litany of extra-curricular activities is the norm now in competitive high schools where almost everyone is an over-achiever. Varsity track captain, Model United Nations lead, first chair in Wind Ensemble, all jostling for a spot in the coveted universities. Not to mention an outstanding GPA as well as a stellar SAT score that moves you up the scale. And the cherry on top being four personal insight prompts (for UC), that showcase the blossoming of a child on the path to adulthood. It is a lot of weight on the slender shoulders of a seventeen-year-old.

What has not changed is the unwavering and much needed support from everyone around us! It mattered three decades back and matters today as well. My teen’s high school journey (and mine alongside her) has been enlightened by cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, and teachers who believed and instilled confidence. This Thanksgiving, I thank them all.

Senioritis, here we come!! 🙂

~ Irvinekar, November 2018