The next chapter

Dan graduated from high school last month. I can write those words, but it still seems surreal. Even though I watched him walk across the stage in his cap and gown and accept his diploma.

These past couple months have been full of lasts and firsts and celebrations. I’m not sure it’s possible to capture all of the thoughts and emotions that have surfaced during this time, but here are a few.

To start, this ending of Dan’s high school chapter has been easier to accept because I can see how ready – and how excited – he is for the next chapter. This fall, Dan will continue his education at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He will be studying animal science and agricultural business, with plans to go on to vet school.

Sending Dan off to the Main U, as we call it here in Minnesota, feels comfortable. Glen and I both earned our undergraduate degrees there, so we’re familiar with campus. Even more so, we thoroughly enjoyed our years there and are looking forward to watching Dan’s experience there unfold.

Unlike when Glen and I were students, Dan was able to request roommates for his required year in the dorms. He’ll be living in a quad with three other guys who sound like outstanding young men. They also come from agricultural backgrounds and will be studying agriculture, which I believe is ideal. I got along well with my college roommate, but we didn’t have anything in common and never stayed in touch after leaving the dorms. Glen’s college roommate situation was so unsustainable that he petitioned the university to allow him to leave the dorms after just eight weeks.

It’s also nice that the university is just over an hour and 30 minutes away from our farm. Especially since we already had our first request for help from home – and classes haven’t even started. During orientation at the university, Dan had an unfortunate experience with a scooter and a tree branch that required a trip to the emergency room and five staples in his scalp. (This was not one of the firsts I had been anticipating.) 

It’ll be somewhat of a new chapter for the rest of us, too. We’ve already starting talking about how different our home is going to feel after Dan leaves for college. Dan’s incredible sense of humor generates a lot of laughter when we’re all together. I hope that we’ll continue to laugh together, but I know the dynamic will change.

There’s been some talk, too, about who is going to take on Dan’s farm chores. Dan does a lot of skid loader work and most of the heifer chores, which we have come to rely on heavily. Monika and Daphne will have opportunities to step into those roles and expand their responsibilities.

Beyond anticipation, most of what I’ve been thinking about and feeling these past six weeks is gratitude.

I’m thankful that our high school offers a college-prep track with dual enrollment courses. Dan graduated from high school with 46 college credits. He could use those credits to graduate from college early, but he wants to compete in collegiate dairy judging his senior year of college. I have been encouraging him to use the flexibility these extra credits afford him to pursue a double major or study abroad or explore courses outside his major. College is meant to expand perspectives.

I’m thankful for Dan’s teachers and coaches who kept him engaged this entire school year. Not once did he fall into what I would call a “senior slide” mentality. The only time I was completely overwhelmed with emotion was listening to some of his teachers recognize his contributions to their classrooms at the senior awards program. For years, I’ve listened as Dan shared classroom experiences from his perspective; it was heartening and humbling to hear his teachers’ perspectives and praise.

I’m thankful for the support our local community and the greater agricultural community have provided through donations and scholarships. Glen and I are relieved that the financial obligations of Dan’s college education have been reduced significantly by scholarships from the university and agricultural businesses.

Finally, I’m thankful for the support of all our family and friends. They’ve made celebrating this milestone all the more joyful. It has been both heartwarming to read their notes of encouragement to Dan.

The cliched saying that it takes a village to raise a child has never felt more true. Our village has been invaluable in this chapter of our lives and I have no doubt that it will continue to be in the next chapter.

Sadie Frericks and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children: Dan, Monika, and Daphne. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at [email protected].