Proud Parental Unit Crowing Thread

[Pruitt IV]

Our ceremony was at Place des Arts - the classical music hall in Montreal.

Speaker was some former school chaplain who decided to deliver a lengthy speech about faith and responsibility. With a last name of Young, I was alphabetically one of the last of 2,000 or so to get called up, so my friends and I (later joined by my parents) spent well over an hour at the bar in the lobby.

It was all a bit of a blur after that.

[A_B]

I've covered it here before but it was pretty fricking cool to be on the field in my MBA gown while my kid was on the stage speaking to the entire graduating class. It was hot as balls, but I'll never forget that. And damn my southern sensibilities for insisting on wearing a button up and tie under the gown.

[L-Jam3]

I have no memory who spoke at my college graduation at the Whateveritwascalledbackthen Arena in the Meadowlands. Then-US Attorney Chris Christie spoke at my law school commencement.

[mister d]

I've covered it here before but it was pretty fricking cool to be on the field in my MBA gown while my kid was on the stage speaking to the entire graduating class. It was hot as balls, but I'll never forget that. And damn my southern sensibilities for insisting on wearing a button up and tie under the gown.

Atleast your lower half wasn't as hot.

[The Sybian]

I've covered it here before but it was pretty fricking cool to be on the field in my MBA gown while my kid was on the stage speaking to the entire graduating class.

That is really amazing, I can't imagine the pride. BU Law was separate from the rest of the school. Maybe there was an option to sit at the University graduation and I just skipped it? Speaker was David E Kelly, who had The Practice, Ally McBeel and maybe Chicago Hope still on the air. Don't remember a word he said, but he gave an outstanding speech and I just kept thinking, "this guy is married to Michelle Pfeiffer, listen to what he says!" It was also nice that he threw in topical references like saying which professor's class he was in while writing the initial script for LA Law.

[HaulCitgo]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

[degenerasian]

I don't recall my ceremony being that long (in 1998)

There must be many more college students and graduates in general now right?

I remember in 1994, my high school graduating class of 700, not even half were moving on to University. Probably half of the rest went into tech or trade schools and the other half into the workforce. And girls got married and became housewives at 18 back in 1994.

[sancarlos]

I felt a little guilty for doing it, but after 3 hours we walked out of my daughters big graduation. She had completed her walk, my wife was parched, and I didn’t really need to see everybody else at that point.

[wlu_lax6]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

This weekend in Philly for a huge race and National Championship are Memorial Day weekend in Oak Ridge, TN.

[Giff]

Our high school graduation was the same day as game 3 of the Rockets/Spurs WCF in 1995. I still remember the valedictorian, who was from Norway, starting his speech with the line "On this special day, I'm reminded of an old saying from Norway [insert Norwegian statement] which translates to 'the Rockets are up by 6 at the end of the first quarter.'"

[sancarlos]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

This weekend in Philly for a huge race and National Championship are Memorial Day weekend in Oak Ridge, TN.

Very cool!

[The Sybian]

I don't recall my ceremony being that long (in 1998)

There must be many more college students and graduates in general now right?

I remember in 1994, my high school graduating class of 700, not even half were moving on to University. Probably half of the rest went into tech or trade schools and the other half into the workforce. And girls got married and became housewives at 18 back in 1994.

Damn, was that in Calgary? My class was 300, and all but three went to college (maybe you aren't counting community college or the Canadian equivalent?). One went straight to the Marines Corp, one took a year to travel and one moved to Colorado to become a ski instructor.

[degenerasian]

I don't recall my ceremony being that long (in 1998)

There must be many more college students and graduates in general now right?

I remember in 1994, my high school graduating class of 700, not even half were moving on to University. Probably half of the rest went into tech or trade schools and the other half into the workforce. And girls got married and became housewives at 18 back in 1994.

Damn, was that in Calgary? My class was 300, and all but three went to college (maybe you aren't counting community college or the Canadian equivalent?). One went straight to the Marines Corp, one took a year to travel and one moved to Colorado to become a ski instructor.

Calgary has very few high schools Grades 10-12. There are probably 50K students in high school divided by 25 schools. So each school has give or take 2,000 students, 700 per grade. Even from 1994 to now, 2,000 per high school ratio hasn't changed. Just more high schools have opened to accept the growing population.

In 1994, there wasn't really community college. There was the University of Calgary, Southern Institute of Technology (Tech school where you would learn everything from cooking to welding) And Mount Royal College, which really was a place people went to upgrade to University if grades were too low. It was like Adult high school were you could redo your Grade 12 math or take a first year university course equivalent. Mount Royal is now a University, along with a half dozen other private universities that have opened.

Back then, those were your three options or else you went into the workforce. There were many good jobs that required only a high school education. This is an oil and gas city. You could probably make good money driving a bobcat at 18.

[Steve of phpBB]

I don't recall my ceremony being that long (in 1998)

There must be many more college students and graduates in general now right?

I remember in 1994, my high school graduating class of 700, not even half were moving on to University. Probably half of the rest went into tech or trade schools and the other half into the workforce. And girls got married and became housewives at 18 back in 1994.

Damn, was that in Calgary? My class was 300, and all but three went to college (maybe you aren't counting community college or the Canadian equivalent?). One went straight to the Marines Corp, one took a year to travel and one moved to Colorado to become a ski instructor.

Yeah, same for me. It was never if I or anyone I knew was going to college, but where.

It turns out that rich suburban world is the exception, not the rule. Many of my kids' friends have not gone to school (and my daughter stopped after one semester, though I think she'll eventually go back).

[elflaco2]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link updated later)

[Steve of phpBB]

Awesome.

[elflaco2]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link https://youtu.be/-6sJeU9gyTM)

[The Sybian]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link https://youtu.be/-6sJeU9gyTM)

Great burst at the end!

[rass]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link https://youtu.be/-6sJeU9gyTM)

Your team has really cool and distinctive unis (the blue and white hoops/stripes with the giant M) so why not stick with those instead of having at least two or three other tops? Our team has 4 or 5 different templates (and colors - white, black, grey, maroon, gold) and I can't keep them straight and sometimes miss kids when I'm trying to take photos but their track team is underfunded and pretty small given the overall size of the HS.

[EdRomero]

That finish is incredible. How do you sprint like that at the end of such a grueling race.

[elflaco2]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link https://youtu.be/-6sJeU9gyTM)

Your team has really cool and distinctive unis (the blue and white hoops/stripes with the giant M) so why not stick with those instead of having at least two or three other tops? Our team has 4 or 5 different templates (and colors - white, black, grey, maroon, gold) and I can't keep them straight and sometimes miss kids when I'm trying to take photos but their track team is underfunded and pretty small given the overall size of the HS.

the kids apparently do not like the hoops - they keep digging into various closets and tubs and finding old ones which they share from meet to meet. they recently noticed that hey, all the other teams get lots of media coverage, have new unis each year and even get their own branded tent. several put together a letter to the athletic director, principal, etc.. but for some reason ahven't shared it -- i know they shared it with their coach and he has waffled on it -- the guy only coaches, no longer teaches and his wife is the girls coach - the girls wear the blue shirts that look like carteret, sayreville and a few others so i tend to miss them (seems i'm the unofficial photog w the insta and fb parent group).
i think part of the media/funding issue is that there's no visiiblity -- no home meets.. however that should be tempered by the annual lot of group, county and state championships they bring in each season

[elflaco2]

That finish is incredible. How do you sprint like that at the end of such a grueling race.

yeah.. that's been his thing since 9th grade -- sometimes he does it as far back as the last 200 -- but he tends to make up places in that last 100 almost every race. no idea where it comes from but its awesome to watch.

[EdRomero]

This might be a stone age/old man thing, but I remember hearing someone say if you could sprint that hard at the end of the race, it means you didn't run hard enough earlier. I'm still going with it shows unbelievable mental strenth/determination over being a wet blanket, but I wonder if that's ever been brought up with his coaches.

[A_B]

X-rays of ElHijodeflaco:

[govmentchedda]

That finish is incredible. How do you sprint like that at the end of such a grueling race.

yeah.. that's been his thing since 9th grade -- sometimes he does it as far back as the last 200 -- but he tends to make up places in that last 100 almost every race. no idea where it comes from but its awesome to watch.

I used to swim like that in high school, mainly because my flip turns were so awful.

[govmentchedda]

Goosebumps watching that. Demolished that last kid!

[Nonlinear FC]

Fun to watch!

Here's a thing I find mildly humorous: Track coaches shouting out encouragement/split times/whatever and pointing down the track. Like... Thanks for the directional assistance coach. (Swim coaches do this too and it never failed to crack me up a little.)

ETA - It's the physical embodiment of when soccer parents shout "Kick It!" and "Run!" at their kids in terms of helpfulness. That used to drive me crazy. And it doesn't matter what they're shouting, the kids drown all that shit out anyways.

[rass]

On those long-distance runs my kid wants a coach on the far turn to give her pace.

[wlu_lax6]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

This weekend in Philly for a huge race and National Championship are Memorial Day weekend in Oak Ridge, TN.

Very cool!

Oak Ridge's rowing setup is neat. Lake, Mountains, and 2 stacks from a powerplant. I am looking for Blinky the fish.

Also this Hampton Inn was well prepared for breakfast with 3 crew teams ....We have LaSalle out of Philly and Pine Crest from Florida with us

[Square Rob]

boy ran the 3200 in the GMC championships yesterday - he hadn't run that distance in a race in over a year..
got a new PR by 10 seconds, now at 9:47 -- still 20 seconds off for D1.. but comes on the heels of a new PR in the 1600 two weeks ago (4:33).. his times in the 800 and the 400 remain flat.. goal is to break 2 in the 800 and get under 50 in the 400.he's close.
it was awesome to watch (video link https://youtu.be/-6sJeU9gyTM)

This is awesome and you should be proud! His speed work in the 400 and 800 is really paying off, that’s why his kick is so strong. Really good turnover down the stretch even with tired legs.

[Nonlinear FC]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

This weekend in Philly for a huge race and National Championship are Memorial Day weekend in Oak Ridge, TN.

Very cool!

Oak Ridge's rowing setup is neat. Lake, Mountains, and 2 stacks from a powerplant. I am looking for Blinky the fish.

Also this Hampton Inn was well prepared for breakfast with 3 crew teams ....We have LaSalle out of Philly and Pine Crest from Florida with us

Surprised Oak Ridge doesn't have a nod to its weird nuclear/uranium/plutonium history. I had a buddy in college who was from there and he laid it all out once. Pretty interesting origin story, frankly.

https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/locat ... %20Reactor).

[HaulCitgo]

State Championship for my son's boat.

Nice. Hopefully turn that into some fun trips around the northeast.

This weekend in Philly for a huge race and National Championship are Memorial Day weekend in Oak Ridge, TN.

Very cool!

Oak Ridge's rowing setup is neat. Lake, Mountains, and 2 stacks from a powerplant. I am looking for Blinky the fish.

Also this Hampton Inn was well prepared for breakfast with 3 crew teams ....We have LaSalle out of Philly and Pine Crest from Florida with us

Sounds like good times. Something beautiful about a whole bunch of kids trying to pack a days worth of calories into a free hotel breakfast. Tennessee definitely some great scenery. N. Alabama not bad either. Who woulda thought

[Nonlinear FC]

Smoky Mountains are flippin' gorgeous.

[wlu_lax6]

Boys are in the finals. Will be rowing for a national championship tomorrow. New Trier (Illinois) will likely win..they were very fast. The other 5 boats were all within a second of each other.

My son's race today was insane. They were in 4th pretty far into the race. Managed to find form and make up a full boat length to get 2nd in the heat and move on to the final.

[govmentchedda]

Nice! That's so damn cool.

[A_B]

Swamp kids finishing strong.

[wlu_lax6]

Race is at 7:26:04
https://www.youtube.com/live/sfYe6ZyVicI?feature=share

[HaulCitgo]

That's what it looks like when a soccer player runs track. Nice job kid. But wlulax drone shots makes your vid look like it was shot with a Kodak. That's what it looks like when a soccer player rows. Nice job kid. Track clubs need to up their game and get the drones in the air

[govmentchedda]

Very cool wlu_crew!

[rass]

Very cool, congrats!