Hello Dear Readers! How are you holding up? In case no one else has told you this lately, well done for being badass enough to live through some pretty extraordinary times.
I have a pretty awesome thing to share, a very bright spot in my personal life. With his blessing, I'm sharing some news about my son. Many of you will know that Alex grew up being home educated by myself, Matthew, and occasionally personal tutors. After sitting for his GCSE exams and getting excellent results he was encouraged by a family friend to apply at the Sixth Form College here in Colchester, where he's been for the last two years.
Alex has done the most amazing job at the college, fully embracing everything it can offer him. He's participated in several extracurricular activities, most especially volunteering with Friends Not Foes as a tutor for local children learning English as a second language. He's enjoyed that so much it's made him consider teaching as a career. He's been back and forth to London attending international sociology conferences and got to see his greatest hero, Ann Oakley speak in person, from a literal front row seat. It's been the most immense pleasure to watch him blossom.
Awesome: causing feelings of great respect, admiration, or fear.
The college has been supporting Alex through the university application process. The way the system here works is - the applicant must apply for four different universities and ranks them in preference. Each university reviews the application and if they're successful, send the student an offer for a specific degree program.
I'm VERY proud to say that Alex has been offered a place in EACH of the four universities he applied to! Those were: University of Essex (right here in Colchester), King's College London, University of Bath and St. Edmund's College, University of Cambridge.
It's crucial that Alex has the chance to make his own decision. He's expressed pretty firm preferences and has narrowed it down to two of the above options. Proud doesn't do my feelings justice; he's simply my marvellous sunshine. Whichever university he ends up at I know he's going to carry on doing great things and the world is an infinitely better place with him in it. And I'm so lucky I get to be his Mama!
Thank you for reading and sharing in my joy. Wishing you all the best,
Erin x
