High School Orientation

On Sunday afternoon we went to a high school orientation for Derek

We were very impressed with the orientation and all the opportunities available. Certainly the stakes are much higher than when we went to school. Derek seems more resolute and determined than excited.

He's dropping band because he says it's too much of a commitment for what he gets out of it. He definitely seems to be more comfortable in the outside observer role, like his mom and dad. We discuss all the time how there are drawbacks to that role and that we would like to see him get more engaged, but we also tell him that you have to be yourself.

The school is huge, like most high schools in the metro area, with about 3500 students so he shouldn't have any problem getting lost if that's what he wants. We were watching American Graffiti this weekend when Derek mentioned that he was not looking forward to all the high school socializing, cliques, and bantering.

He'll be on the Advanced Placement track so he'll be busy. He's most excited about taking the engineering and computer electives. Right now he doesn't have much appreciation for the liberal arts, but hopefully he will come to understand the importance of being well rounded. He's going to continue on with French, but only because colleges expect two years of a foreign language.