This past weekend Wes and I took a fateful trip that resulted in a sudden change in the trajectory of his life. And I didn't seem it coming. For several years now, Wes has stated he will most likely go to the University of Florida. He has the grades and test scores for Bright Futures, meaning he can go to any public Florida school for free. UF is super hard to get into, but Michael's name and his connections make Wesley's admittance very likely. So whenever I think about the future and about Wes being in college, I envision him two hours away... coming home on weekends, bringing friends, dumping his laundry for me to wash. He has actively mocked any materials that coming from Harding, dumping them in the trash. He has always dismissed HU as this obscure college Mom went to.
Well, on an impulsive whim, I texted Wesley at school last week and asked if he wanted to go with me to Harding and watch their homecoming musical. His UF campus visit was a bit of a disappointment - We never saw anything that I could see Wesley becoming a part of in any significant way. No campus ministry house where he could hang out like Michael did at Auburn, and a UF fraternity wouldn't be a safe space, and he couldn't continue to use his gifts in music and theater as a hobby. To be involved in theater at UF, you have to be in the theater program. And even if he wanted to pursue theater (which he doesn't, it's just a hobby) it would be an environment hostile to faith & a set apart lifestyle. I started thinking we need to take a look at some smaller schools in Florida so Wes can compare the big school experience to the small school experience. I didn't even know where to start in Florida, but sitting at my desk thinking about it, I remembered that Harding does a musical for Homecoming every year. I figured it was too late, but I googled Harding Homecoming. I found out it was the next weekend. I quickly searched for flights and found a cheap option into Memphis on Frontier. Wesley is entitled to so many days off school for college visits, and it sounded like a fun way to spend some time with him and see if he would want to look into smaller schools.
I texted him, "Would you want to go to Harding with me next weekend to see their Homecoming musical?" Within a minute he replied, "1. Fly or drive? 2. Would I miss any school?" I replied, "1. Fly 2. Just one day." He replied, "I'll let you know by the end of the day." He checked the dates and said yes, and I booked the flights. I just thought of it as an opportunity to take a trip together and to walk down memory lane and show him where I used to live, just like I did in Charlotte last month. My only motive college-decision wise for Wes was that he might come back open to looking into smaller schools in Florida. Never, ever ever did I think he would want to go to Harding. Michael drove us to the Orlando airport Thursday evening and we flew right over Universal Studios. I know we've flown over it many times before, but now that we have Universal passes and are familiar with the park, I can recognize it from the air:
I've never rented a car before! Even though Michael set it all up, I was still nervous. We found the Avis office at the Memphis Airport and located our car. I feel so grown up! It was way too late in the game to get a hotel room in Searcy, so I booked a place in Heber Springs. We got up Friday morning and drove to Searcy to check Wes in for Black & Gold Day. We had breakfast in the cafeteria and listened to an opening presentation. Then we went to chapel and were free to visit classes on the schedule they gave us. Wes picked a theater class taught by Dr. Frye. But it didn't start until 10 a.m., and chapel ended around 9:30. We went ahead and walked to the Reynolds so I could show Wes around. It was quiet and no students were there yet, but we passed Dr. Frye's office, and he was sitting at his desk. I said hi and got a big hug.
Dr. Frye was so enthusiastic and talked so easily with Wes. He asked him a lot of questions, they talked theater and musicals, and Dr. Frye talked a lot about how Harding compares to large universities like UF and Florida State. Wes was so at ease and clearly enjoyed the conversation. The students had to come get Dr. Frye because he talked to us for so long that he was late for his class. We joined them, and kids were making presentations on projects they had done. It was really interesting, and Wesley was able to participate in the conversation. After Dr. Frye's class we peeked in and talked to Dottie Frye for a long time, and she told him all about Pied Pipers and how they travel, even going to Scotland every summer. She shared about her experience at a large university before transferring to Harding and how it compared on so many levels. The whole day pretty much went like that. I would introduce Wes to a professor, and they would completely love bomb him. Whereas UF was so cold and intimating, Harding was over the top friendly and engaging.
One of the items on the itinerary was a dorm tour, but I circled something else saying, "We don't need to do a dorm tour." But Wesley said, "No, I'd like to see the dorm." So we went to Armstrong. Again, were greeted by the friendliest people. They joked with Wes and he clearly felt comfortable talking with them. Wesley and I were walking across the quad, heading from Armstrong towards the cafeteria for lunch, and I asked Wes what he thought. He replied, "I could see myself here. Actually, I think this is probably where I'll end up coming." I about tripped and fell on the concrete. But I tried to act normal while my brain furiously processed. I just didn't see that coming. A part of me began to panic since Harding is SO far away and that was NOT the plan. But Wes has had so much anxiety about college. We just began meeting with a pair of advisors that RT recommended, to help keep Wes on track in applying to colleges. The whole process of applying to UF and getting in is so overwhelming. The advisors will cost thousands of dollars, and Wes and I both sat there in our first meeting with eyes like a deer in headlights as we were fed a steady stream of stress sauce. I could see the relief in Wesley as he locked onto something that fits him better. The stress turned to excitement, and suddenly there was enthusiasm where there had been fear. He spotted several people he knew from ABC while walking around campus. He saw Austin, Aja, and he caught up with Jobin for a few minutes outside the HUB:
After lunch we sat in on a class with Dr. Hoggatt. They were discussing film genres, and Wes enjoyed participating in the class discussion. I had Dr. Hoggatt when I was at Harding, but he didn't recognize me until we pulled a yearbook off the shelf in the publications office. It was the yearbook from my sophomore year when the lady at the salon tragically chopped my hair the shortest it's been in my life since birth. He said, "Oh! I remember you! I didn't recognize you because of your long hair." Which made me laugh, because I quickly grew out my hair in college and the reason he didn't recognize me is because I'm 25 years older, not because my hair is long. But it was a nice attempted save. Dr. Hoggatt had one appointment after class, but he asked us to stick around so he could show us around. In the meantime we talked to Dr. Blackstone, who got her Ph.D. from UF, and she worked at CNN. She told us how CNN and other networks beg Harding for graduates, because they know HU grads have 4 years hands-on experience in the studio, whereas you can't get anywhere close to the equipment or the core program at places like UF until your junior year. Dr. Hoggatt met back up with us and showed us the radio studio, where we talked to the student DJ. He told us he'd be in the musical that evening. Wes had great conversations everywhere we went. He couldn't believe how well my professors all remembered me, and how much time they spent with us. Dr. Hoggatt and Dr. Blackstone asked us to come watch the live broadcast at 5:00.
We had just enough time to explore the Ganus before it was time for the Good News Singers concert at 4:00 p.m. Wesley didn't take a single photo all weekend, but he had his phone out the whole concert, and recorded much of it. He's really interested in auditioning for the group. Since it's Homecoming, Chuck invited all former members of Good News Singers to come join them for the final song. And yes, Chuck is still there!! My German dad, who taught me how to play Edelweiss on the guitar during our summer in Bremen. In ways it's like nothing has changed!
We watched the Live at 5 broadcast from within the studio. The weatherman wore his costume to promote the Homecoming musical. We went straight from the broadcast to meet Jalaina and her family for dinner. There is now a Greek restaurant right across the street from the football field! Why wasn't there a Greek restaurant there when I went to Harding??? Of course I was too poor to eat anywhere but in the cafeteria. But it was delicious! Jalaina talked about Jason nonstop at HUG, and I talked about Michael. Now we're both married to our guys and bringing kids to visit Harding! Her daughter Evie will be a freshmen at HU next fall. They also had their son Sawyer with them. It was so neat to hear our kids laughing together... the next generation!
The guy we talked to inside the radio studio this afternoon (Keller Montgomery) was Wesley's favorite character in Cinderella. He played Jean-Michel, a character we weren't familiar with. This is a different version from what we have seen, and it was a hilarious comedy. The level of professionalism from the sets to the costumes to the talent was a million notches above LCS, and we were really impressed. It's exciting to think Wesley will be able to continue to be a part of musical productions following graduation. I got to hug Kristy Patterson again - we sat together during chapel that morning but we'd been running around with our boys all day doing different things. Will plans to attend Harding as well, but he's one year younger than Wesley.
We got back to our place in Heber Springs late, and we had to crank up the heat. It's starting to get cold in Arkasas! We stayed at Lindsey's Resort on the Little Red River. It's a fishing tourism resort, with a all kinds of private fishing excursion offerings and a store. Michael is incredibly jealous!! We watched Edward Scissorhands on TV as we got ready in the morning - Wes has never seen it! Our famous Lakeland film... we'll have to come home and watch the whole thing.
We explored the resort before driving back to Searcy. We weren't able to go to the Homecoming game because our flight was early that evening. But Wes wanted to stop by the student center and redeem his food vouchers before heading to Memphis. We got to see lots of fall leaves - Such a luxury for a Floridian!
We had to show the girls that there's a Rib Crib in Searcy! We all miss the one in Lakeland. Wes was impressed
that Bad Suns, a band he likes is coming to play the Benson soon:
We used our vouchers to get free Chick-fil-A, and sat at the only remaining
original circa Y2K booth left in the student center. I recognized Kay Gowen (one of my professors) and she came and talked to us for a long time. Wesley has just been blown away by how well the professors remember me, and how much time they invested in us over the weekend.
Dylan, the admissions counselor, has already reached out to Wesley offering him a full scholarship to attend Harding's Honor's Symposium this summer. Wes and I flew home Saturday evening, and Sunday afternoon Michael and I were trying to take a nap and Wes came in with his laptop, ready to send off his enrollment. It's been such a dramatic shift seeing him so motivated and excited and focused. I'm trying to make peace with it, but I have some serious whiplash from how quickly my vision of Wesley's future has changed. Harding is soooo far away, and there's a big chance he'll never move back to Florida. I had expected him to attend UF and make a life here in Florida. And now I'm having to grapple with the idea of letting him go... further away and maybe for forever. I don't know what prompted me to bring Wesley here on a whim, but it appears God had a hand in it. I'm thankful He has a plan for Wesley, and I'm going to try to shelve my grief. His plans are not our own! But they are good.
