It was the 3.5 year trifecta. Well, not exactly a "trifecta" by the dictionary definition. But by my own.
What the heck am I talking about?
On Saturday, my youngest brother graduated from college. Three of us kids have graduated, each taking 3.5 calendar years (more about the "calendar year" distinction later).
The bulk of the fam schlopped up to Illinois to watch "Baby Paul" graduate from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. The weather was cold, there were snow piles on the ground and girls were walking around in moccasins with no socks. Yes, winter in Illinois. ;)
I got to thinking about this whole 3.5 years. I pounded through college in that amount of time. So did Robin. And also Paul.
Why the heck would we do such a thing? Well, for me it was because I was so over school by about the 7th grade, I couldn't wait to be done. I was ready to hit the ground running and start living life. Robin? Well, I asked her over the weekend. Her response was along the lines of "it was fairly easy to take the summer classes and so I decided to do it that way." Paul? He was in the same boat as me. Maybe not sick of school since the 7th grade, but plain ready to be OUT of college/the papers/exams. But bring on all of the fun projects! ;)
Those of you who know us know we're a competitive bunch. I didn't actually *intend* to start a "graduate from college in 3.5 years" sort of thing, but it looks like it happened. I'm not sure if they felt they had to keep up?
Here's the competitive part of it: I did it in 3.5 calendar years, but in THREE academic years. Full of myself, right? I won't deny it. Paul tried to tell me he did the same .... because he spent a semester in Taiwan. I say NO DICE!!!!! Baby bro, you were taking academic classes and getting credit. I don't care if it was totally easy. I dropped out of college for a full semester and didn't get a lick of college credit for the semester-long internship I had. So there's our competitive edge.
I do have photos to share ... but haven't had time to download them quite yet. There's an especially cute one of Robin cheering with Baby Theodore. :)
2 comments:
You know, Karen, it is funny you should post this. I am one of the most anal people I know and all through school I have had to be the best. In fact, at my 8th grade promotion my Dad was actually EMBARRASSED!! His exact words were something like, "Did you have to get EVERY award?" Then high school valedictorian, etc. I was on the same track in college but for this or that reason I only took 9 credits one semester (I was in Austria, so that had something to do with it). This allowed me to only be part-time my last semester - which was a nice breather - or I seriously might have gone insane. In any case, I think I have finally lost the anal part of me. I have no desire to be perfect in this way anymore and the fact that you did college faster than me - I really feel no distress over this. Thank you for showing me I might just finally be healed!
Love you Karen! -hehehe :)
P.S. I hope this makes sense. I can't reread it now cause babe is wailing.
Oh Mary ... you make me giggle!!!! Glad I can help (and glad I didn't sound *too* full of myself.
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