When I was young I had dreams of attending an old Ivy League college. Some of those dreams were because of songs like See You in September. Odd, I know. But nevertheless, I wanted to attend classes in big, old brick buildings on a campus where leaves turned gorgeous fall colors and the ground would sometimes be covered in snow.
I married young and started a family. And then I began to dream of my children going to the ivy covered colleges of my dreams. Britt actually did. She went to a local college that had an old-school look and feel. She was a member of the cheer squad and loved her classes for the short time she was able to attend. Her college experience was cut short as the result of a fatal car accident just a month into her first term.
Now I enjoy listening to my friends as they share their childrens’ college experiences. Just yesterday a dear friend and I were discussing her daughter’s plans for college. Her daughter just received her first acceptance letter. The excitement level is growing every day for them in anticipation of other acceptance letters that are sure to follow.
College acceptance letters have started to arrive in homes across the nation. Anxiety levels rise as envelopes are opened in hopes of positive news. Anxiety levels can be high even with the good news of acceptance as parents begin to worry about sending their “babies” off to fend for themselves and prove their maturity.
To help students, faculty, and parents stay safe this semester, Marcia Peot, full time police officer and Chief Safety Officer at StreetSafe, offers the following campus safety reminders:
- Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.
- Never leave outside doors propped open, and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.
- Never accept a ride from someone you don’t know, even if they are or claim to be a fellow student.
- When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.
- When walking by yourself, keep your expensive belongings such as laptops and cell phones hidden. You will be less of a target.
- When dressed for cold weather, make sure your vision and hearing are not obstructed by hats and scarves.
- Consider taking extra measures to protect yourself. StreetSafe is a new service that uses your smart phone’s GPS technology to instantly connect to help before a situation turns into an emergency. StreetSafe’s “Walk with Me” service offers a live connection to a professional Safety Advisor to keep you safe when walking in unfamiliar or threatening surroundings and instant access to 911 if needed.
Tami says
Oh, Cathi. My heart is breaking for you today. I love your site, and read it often. I’ve heard you talk of “missing Britt”, but until this post I didn’t realize you’d lost her. I’m so, so very sorry.
You are a brave and inspiring woman! Thank you for sharing all your wonderful sojourns, recipes, photos, and wise thoughts with us.