Laurantwins
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2015
- Messages
- 94
Hello there USMA forum!
We live in a small, rural town in Texas. Both DS#1 is an honors students & athlete. He was inspired by his grandfather's service (Army) to serve our country, and have set his sights on a service academy. I catch him watching YouTube videos about each campus, and his favorites fluctuate.
When DS#1 met with the high school counselor to choose next year's schedule, he had printed off info from the West Point website and used it to advocate for a 4 year plan that focuses on STEM. The "norm" in our town is a focus on Ag - either livestock or welding. The high school counselor was GREAT, encouraging, and made it work.
The problem has been some of his teachers/other parents. They keep asking why he has this "Wild Idea about West Point", telling him that it's wrong that his graduation plan is "special", and generally making very discouraging comments. He's handling it well, saying things like "This is my dream, and I'm going to fight for it."
Friday, a parent/school employee called me to tell me about his "Wild Ideas", that I'm a bad mom to be encouraging him to join the military because he will be killed, and that his schedule is unfair to the other 80 kids in his class (because with the STEM classes, his GPA/Class Rank will be higher).
I just said that I won't do anything to discourage him.
He's got a long four years ahead of him. Has anyone else dealt with these attitudes from townsfolk? Any advice (for DS and for me) would be greatly appreciated!
We live in a small, rural town in Texas. Both DS#1 is an honors students & athlete. He was inspired by his grandfather's service (Army) to serve our country, and have set his sights on a service academy. I catch him watching YouTube videos about each campus, and his favorites fluctuate.
When DS#1 met with the high school counselor to choose next year's schedule, he had printed off info from the West Point website and used it to advocate for a 4 year plan that focuses on STEM. The "norm" in our town is a focus on Ag - either livestock or welding. The high school counselor was GREAT, encouraging, and made it work.
The problem has been some of his teachers/other parents. They keep asking why he has this "Wild Idea about West Point", telling him that it's wrong that his graduation plan is "special", and generally making very discouraging comments. He's handling it well, saying things like "This is my dream, and I'm going to fight for it."
Friday, a parent/school employee called me to tell me about his "Wild Ideas", that I'm a bad mom to be encouraging him to join the military because he will be killed, and that his schedule is unfair to the other 80 kids in his class (because with the STEM classes, his GPA/Class Rank will be higher).
I just said that I won't do anything to discourage him.
He's got a long four years ahead of him. Has anyone else dealt with these attitudes from townsfolk? Any advice (for DS and for me) would be greatly appreciated!