CAUTION! – Andrew Overload!

I haven’t written a post about Andrew in a while, leaving the highlights of his life mostly in the background, while he finished up grad school at Lee University, in Cleveland, Tennessee. But sometimes he does something amazing and it’s hard to keep it under wraps when he makes us proud.

After auditioning at five different schools, in five different states, in less than two months, he’s decided to accept an assistantship as a Graduate Staff Assistant in the school of Music, for three years, at the University of South Carolina. His tuition will be paid, in full, while working on his DMA, and he’ll also receive a stipend – which is a good thing because he won’t be living in Harnsberger’s basement for this next degree. My checkbook and his student loan balance thanks them!

What a hard decision he had in front of him last week, but I think he made a wise and practical choice. His acceptance letter went in the mail today.

Looking back through the years I came across some pictures from his college years that you may or may not have already seen. If he reads this, he’ll question why I used theses picture.

Troy University – first leg of the journey

The Sound Of The South

Band Camp

Student teaching for undergrad

On his way to Lee University – second leg of journey

Troy senior recital

just because it’s one of my favorites!

Intense!

Andrew and Xochi at Disney between semesters

Ready for the last leg of the journey

As I look back, I can see how much he’s grown, and matured, and become a responsible young man. I can’t remember the last time I had to do laundry for him. That’s probably because he hasn’t been able to come home as much while at Lee. We also have not been to Lee as much as we traveled to Troy. We’ve kept up with all of his concerts by watching them live through the website. It was a great day when I learned how to hook my laptop up to the tv. I knew that smart tv would come in handy for something.

I will admit, in the last year, there were times I didn’t even want to talk to him. Stress and Andrew do not mix well, equaling a short temper and no patience. For him – not me! Now that his decision is made and he knows what the future holds, the stress of hanging in limbo has been relieved and phone calls are manageable. It’s a good thing I have patience – or at least I think I do.

Next month we will travel to Tennessee to see his graduate recital on the 12th and on May 4-5 we will travel back again for graduation. Then there’s the moving him to South Caroline – ugh – but I think he and Xochi have a plan in place for that!

That’s a wrap!

~Elle