Mother's Day and college graduation
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
There’s a saying that a mother is a person who, seeing that there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. The quote has been widely attributed to Tenneva Jordan, whoever that is. (You can look it up.)
The essence of the quote is simply this: Mothers often do without so their children might have the things they need.
For what it’s worth, I’ll accurately report that the quote applies to my own mother, Rosemary Ryan, and to the mother of my children, Pam Ryan. I’ve watched both of them make personal sacrifices, many times over, for the benefit of their children and others’ children.
They have made many quiet contributions to many causes over the years, neither expecting nor seeking publicity or fanfare. And I’ll not embarrass either of them any further, other than to say Happy Mother’s Day. And, thank you.
***
* One gift both mother and grandmother will enjoy this Mother’s Day weekend is the graduation of their daughter and granddaughter, respectively, Meghan Kathleen Ryan.
Meghan, 19, will most likely become the youngest in the family to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating magna cum laude, when the Wilmington College commencement concludes on May 8.
When she was 15, she told me she would graduate with a bachelor’s at 19. I remember telling her that that wasn’t important; what was important was that she continue her education and see it through, however long it may take.
“I’ll graduate at 19,” she said. And that was that.
At a recent reception for Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys, I told WC President Dr. Dan DiBiasio that I still wasn’t sure what I’d write about Meghan’s graduation. Her older sister, Caitlin, graduated from Wilmington College last Mother’s Day at age 20 and I struggled then for the right words.
I do hope Caitlin and Meghan know that I am very proud of their academic
accomplishments.
As former SSCC President Dr. Larry Dukes is fond of reminding me, “Thank
goodness they take after their mother and not their father.” (Amen.)
Two last points worth making:
1. The Ohio Post-Secondary Enrollment Option is, without a shred of doubt, the absolute best program for higher education opportunities among middle-income families. Any time you hear politicians in Columbus talk about “seniors to sophomores,” or any other thinly veiled alternatives to Post-Secondary Enrollment, do yourself and students across Ohio a favor, call their butts out on it.
Why trade the PSEO for something like “seniors to sophomores,” which can
set an academically inclined student back two years on his or her college
education? Seniors to sophomores refers to a high school senior graduating
as a college sophomore.
In our family and many others across Ohio, we prefer “sophomores to juniors,” which refers to high school sophomores graduating high school as college juniors. The Post-Secondary Enrollment Option makes this possible. And it lets students pursue a four-year degree without the burden of a four-year college tuition debt for themselves and their parents.
2.: Forgive me, but I wrote so much about Post-Secondary Enrollment that I’ve forgotten my second point. I’m sure it was a very good point, however. If I think of it later, I’ll add it to that column I’m supposed to dedicate to Meghan next week.
Suffice it to say for anyone who truly wants a college degree, the opportunities are there. Both of our daughters earned associate’s degrees from Southern State Community College prior to their senior year of high school. It can be done. (And we hope our son, Colin, follows their example.)
It takes effort, but don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. And as I’ve heard professors like Bill Horne and Jon Davidson say to college graduates, “No one can take that degree away from you.”
***
* Lastly, congrats to Brandy Chandler and Stephen Forsha for again having their efforts recognized by the Associated Press Society of Ohio on Sunday, May 2.
Along with many of their former co-workers (congrats to all of you, too!), Brandy and Stephen both earned an additional AP editorial excellence award to add to their respective collections.
In the case of Brandy and Stephen, one thing is certain: HCP readers are most fortunate to be able to read their informative and enlightening stories for free at www.highlandcountypress.com as well as in print.
These are two of the finest young journalists – at any level. And they are way ahead of the learning curve when it comes to online media reporting. They know their chosen profession and it shows.
(Note to staff: If I ever forget to thank all of you for your efforts, please feel free to kick me where the sun cannot shine without proper reflection or inversion.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
The essence of the quote is simply this: Mothers often do without so their children might have the things they need.
For what it’s worth, I’ll accurately report that the quote applies to my own mother, Rosemary Ryan, and to the mother of my children, Pam Ryan. I’ve watched both of them make personal sacrifices, many times over, for the benefit of their children and others’ children.
They have made many quiet contributions to many causes over the years, neither expecting nor seeking publicity or fanfare. And I’ll not embarrass either of them any further, other than to say Happy Mother’s Day. And, thank you.
***
* One gift both mother and grandmother will enjoy this Mother’s Day weekend is the graduation of their daughter and granddaughter, respectively, Meghan Kathleen Ryan.
Meghan, 19, will most likely become the youngest in the family to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating magna cum laude, when the Wilmington College commencement concludes on May 8.
When she was 15, she told me she would graduate with a bachelor’s at 19. I remember telling her that that wasn’t important; what was important was that she continue her education and see it through, however long it may take.
“I’ll graduate at 19,” she said. And that was that.
At a recent reception for Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys, I told WC President Dr. Dan DiBiasio that I still wasn’t sure what I’d write about Meghan’s graduation. Her older sister, Caitlin, graduated from Wilmington College last Mother’s Day at age 20 and I struggled then for the right words.
I do hope Caitlin and Meghan know that I am very proud of their academic
accomplishments.
As former SSCC President Dr. Larry Dukes is fond of reminding me, “Thank
goodness they take after their mother and not their father.” (Amen.)
Two last points worth making:
1. The Ohio Post-Secondary Enrollment Option is, without a shred of doubt, the absolute best program for higher education opportunities among middle-income families. Any time you hear politicians in Columbus talk about “seniors to sophomores,” or any other thinly veiled alternatives to Post-Secondary Enrollment, do yourself and students across Ohio a favor, call their butts out on it.
Why trade the PSEO for something like “seniors to sophomores,” which can
set an academically inclined student back two years on his or her college
education? Seniors to sophomores refers to a high school senior graduating
as a college sophomore.
In our family and many others across Ohio, we prefer “sophomores to juniors,” which refers to high school sophomores graduating high school as college juniors. The Post-Secondary Enrollment Option makes this possible. And it lets students pursue a four-year degree without the burden of a four-year college tuition debt for themselves and their parents.
2.: Forgive me, but I wrote so much about Post-Secondary Enrollment that I’ve forgotten my second point. I’m sure it was a very good point, however. If I think of it later, I’ll add it to that column I’m supposed to dedicate to Meghan next week.
Suffice it to say for anyone who truly wants a college degree, the opportunities are there. Both of our daughters earned associate’s degrees from Southern State Community College prior to their senior year of high school. It can be done. (And we hope our son, Colin, follows their example.)
It takes effort, but don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. And as I’ve heard professors like Bill Horne and Jon Davidson say to college graduates, “No one can take that degree away from you.”
***
* Lastly, congrats to Brandy Chandler and Stephen Forsha for again having their efforts recognized by the Associated Press Society of Ohio on Sunday, May 2.
Along with many of their former co-workers (congrats to all of you, too!), Brandy and Stephen both earned an additional AP editorial excellence award to add to their respective collections.
In the case of Brandy and Stephen, one thing is certain: HCP readers are most fortunate to be able to read their informative and enlightening stories for free at www.highlandcountypress.com as well as in print.
These are two of the finest young journalists – at any level. And they are way ahead of the learning curve when it comes to online media reporting. They know their chosen profession and it shows.
(Note to staff: If I ever forget to thank all of you for your efforts, please feel free to kick me where the sun cannot shine without proper reflection or inversion.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]