We dropped off Ryan at George Fox University on Thursday. It was a day of new student orientation and he was anxious to be on his own, to get set up, to start this new chapter of his life.
It was a family event, with a fair in the middle of the campus and Ryan’s younger brothers were bouncing here and there, getting balloons and candy and spinning some wheels to win prizes. All the while, Ryan was figuring out what he was to do and where he was going. I sat back and just watched and asked how I could help. When I saw him. It was good for me as the mom to just lay back and let him walk through the process on his own, as that is what he wanted. He took the initiative.
It was an interesting transition to see my oldest son, just minted as an 18 year old, doing all of this alone. The only thing he asked me for later was 25 dollars for a mystery bus ride.
After all of the check in process and filling out forms, we were able to help Ryan get moved into his dorm room and meet three of his four roommates and their parents. Ryan seemed so grown up, so outgoing, so ready to take this step in his life. He was getting his bed ready and I helped unpack his clothes.
Later we listened to the president of George Fox, Robin Baker, as he welcomed families and assured us our children would be in good hands. He assured us that George Fox is strong in its values and convictions about Christ. The worship songs earlier gave a real feeling of Christian community and belonging. George Fox is a small university and that is exactly what I feel Ryan needs. A couple of hours before while Ryan was getting checked in, a math and engineering professor that I had met during a parent orientation meeting a couple of months ago, saw me and asked, “Hi, you’re Ryan’s mom, right?” and I thought wow, he remembered me. How amazing is that. Then he said, Ryan got into my class – Ryan had been on the waiting list all summer.
Now that is an example of why I am already loving being able to send Ryan to George Fox. That personal touch. That individualized attention. That feeling that someone cares, someone notices. You matter.
As my husband Chris and I were talking about this next chapter in the journey of Ryan’s life, Chris said he needs to share with Ryan that he can start over in college. Be whoever he wants to be. To not feel trapped in the mold he might have felt caught in while he was in high school. College is a new beginning. And seeing Ryan with his new roommates, taking the initiative to get checked in and find his way around campus made me think that Ryan is doing just that. Becoming who he needs to be. We always tried to tell him that he has a lot of talents and to look to God to use those gifts for His glory and honor. To be kind to others, to reach out. And I saw him doing this.
As Chris and I drove away from Newberg, I asked Chris what he felt about Ryan going to George Fox. It was more expensive of course than state schools, but God blessed Ryan with a merit scholarship and we did get some financial aid. Chris did not hesitate to say he feels really good about Ryan being there. The worship songs during the family welcome with the president of the school were impactful.
And, Chris saw the banners throughout campus that said “Love and serve one another.”
The very thought we have about life. Loving God and serving others. We know Ryan will do well and we send him off in God’s care.