A must share with over eager parents!

David Marcus, author of books about the college search and a columnist for the New York Times, shares his personal story about his dreams and expectations for his son and his journey to except and celebrate his son for who he is.

“I spend a lot of time in high-pressure communities, speaking to anxious mothers and fathers like me. We want our children to go to great colleges and prepare for a brutal job market.” said David Marcus. “ Still, I tell families to stop obsessing about campuses with marquee names. I’ve visited dozens of little-known schools where professors are far more engaged in teaching than members of Ivy League faculties. Also, in this economy, I can make a strong case for going to community college, mastering a trade or taking a gap year to earn money.

Mr. Marcus describes his realizations that his son is different than he was as a teen.   He is not a great student, and doesn’t know what he want to be when he grows up like Mr. Marcus knew when he was his son’s age. But  in so many other ways the son is thriving.

“Twelfth grade is a few years away, but I’m already imagining Benjie’s application essay: “My name is Benjamin but no one calls me that. I’m an animal-loving, cello-playing, cross-country-running nomad who has gone to six school districts in three states because of my dad’s stupid career.”

The best advice Mr. Marcus shares is not to see their kids as statistics.” I urge parents of high school juniors and seniors not to see their kids as SAT and ACT scores and G.P.A.’s, but,” he continues, ” as creative, unpredictable, unprogrammable teenagers with their own gifts.