College

A year ago October Carter, Russ and I went to look at colleges in Boston. The things Carter wanted in a college were very specific. Large school, in a large city, lots of international possibilities, highly diverse student body, yet a school that would accept an undecided major and still offer her the chance to study anything. Sounds like it should not be a hard school to find. What we did not know is there would be one school and only one school that fulfilled all those things and added a twist, experiential learning. That means not just classes, but co-ops which are real jobs in real companies. That school is Northeastern University in Boston.
During our visit to the campus Russ and I kept looking at each other and not saying it out loud, but with our eyes, “this place is amazing.” We did not want to taint Carter’s response. Well, her response was fast and definitive, “this is the place.”
Finding the place where you feel like you are with your people is a great feeling. Waiting to find out if they think you are their person is not a great feeling. Every school we visited after Northeastern was measured against that bar. Nothing else measured up.
Carter met with her college counselor in the spring and told her that Northeastern University was her plan. Not only did she want to go to Northeastern, but she wanted to go to their freshman first semester abroad program, adding an additional hurdle in the admissions process. “Done, but you still need a back up.” Carter reluctantly came up with a couple of places. No applying to a dozen schools for her.
Tonight I was celebrating my friend Dave’s birthday at a dinner at his house. Russ was home, still sick and Carter was finally over her concussion and slowly resuming her basketball workout. I got a text at the table. I ignored it. My watch beeped. I ignored it. My phone range. I ignored it. Then I worried that Russ might be really sick or Carter hurt. I looked at my phone. Rudely, I jumped up and said my apologies that I had to go home.
I called home from the car and Carter told me she had gotten an email telling her that her decision was in, but she had not logged into her Northeastern account to see the answer, waiting for me to get there to be with her. I was home in a flash.
Carter and Russ were sitting on the guest room bed. She started the video on my phone so I could capture the news as it happened. Given my bad filming history I tried very hard to do a good job, but we all were incredibly nervous. What if she does not get in? She was going to have to change the dream she had been having for over a year.
She clicked the computer and read, “Congratulations!” Not only was she accepted into Northeastern, but she got into the international program for first semester. Carter and Russ both started crying. I have only ever seen Russ cry once before and that was at his mother’s funeral.  
The emotions are high around here. It is a relief and a joy. I am now wishing for all of Carter’s friends that they too get the answers they want and soon.  
From the moment Carter stepped foot on Northeastern’s campus she felt it was her place. That feeling helped keep her focused on doing everything possible to realize the dream. I am so happy that her dream came true.