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       #Post#: 14099--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: db105 Date: July 28, 2019, 8:52 am
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       It makes sense to sample a bit before deciding, although it's
       not just the studies, but what he's likely to be working on
       after university that needs to be considered. I wish him the
       best of luck with whatever he decides.
       #Post#: 14101--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: Zyngaru Date: July 28, 2019, 11:55 am
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       The advice that I give young family members who go off to
       college or University, is to find part time work in your
       selected field of study, while in college.  Then when you get
       your degree, you already have experience in the field which
       gives you a leg up on your competition, which is the other
       graduates that didn't work in their field of study, but worked
       at the local grocery store or fast food.
       This has worked for the ones that stayed in school and
       graduated.  They actually were put on full time with the
       companies they did part time work with and have moved up through
       the ranks fast.  They are now in upper management with their
       companies.
       #Post#: 15872--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: Jack Date: November 10, 2019, 8:08 am
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       Van is going to be staying home from school tomorrow.
       Since this forum only goes back a couple of years, let me start
       by quoting this, from 11 May 2016:
       "It looks like we finally have Van's high school situation
       settled (for now, pursuant to how he does with it).
       Both because he wants to keep his options open for being a vet,
       and because they're classes that do better when they can be
       explained, he's going to be taking Biology and Algebra II with
       his classmates. He'll also be taking physical education with
       them, both for social interaction and to help him stay in shape
       and active.
       His fourth period will be orchestra.
       Lunch.
       After lunch, he'll have about three hours, which will be split
       between two tutors: his piano tutor, and Mr. Y (who has been
       tutoring Zeke).
       We're not sure how much Mr. Y will be doing. They have online
       schools now, and it looks like Van might be able to do the rest
       of his classes that way, so his time at school would be split
       between doing the classes and getting help with his homework (or
       even just doing it).
       This is going to be a pretty heavy load for him, because it
       means he'll be doing an extra class or two. With a bit of
       organizational help, and if he approaches it with as much
       dedication as he does the things he likes, it should work out
       pretty well. Plus, Ryan pulled off a 9 or 10 period day when he
       was in high school, and he'll be around on weekends, so maybe he
       can give Van some help and encouragement."
       Van has kept that basic schedule (as a reminder, he IS now a
       senior in high school).  He's doing the Advanced High School
       graduation track.  After some rough times (and a sore bottom or
       two) his freshman and sophomore years, he not only stepped up
       and kept up all his academics (classroom and online) along with
       his band and orchestra work, and making a little personal time
       on occasion, he also finished his online courses ahead of time -
       completing the last of his senior English requirements yesterday
       evening.  He still has to take the final test, but that takes a
       few days to set up.
       In the meantime, he came to me with a request, that I decided
       was more than valid.  Van has offered Kenny the chance to Emcee
       the Christmas Charity Show this year, but Van is still doing
       most of the behind the scenes work, coordinating the acts and
       scheduling the numbers (to make sure they don't have 9 different
       versions of Silent Night and nothing else).  And while the past
       couple of shows have been great, he's also trying to change
       things around so that, while all the traditional favorites are
       performed, it's not just the same thing.  He's also working hard
       with Carter to make sure they have all the holiday numbers down.
       They deliberately didn't book many gigs this month, since they
       were very busy in October, will be very busy in December, and
       have a lot of practice to do.  Van is also working with another
       new kid who's a keyboardist and a freshman, so the band will
       have someone to step in for him next year, if they want to stay
       together.
       As to his request - after completing work he didn't need to
       finish for another 7 months or so, he's going to sleep in
       tomorrow morning.  We're going to have lunch together, then I'm
       going to take him to the spa so he can get a massage, and a
       mani-pedi, and a facial (I have to be with him since he is a
       minor, so I'll probably get my hands and feet done while I'm
       there).
       #Post#: 15873--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: kalico Date: November 10, 2019, 8:22 am
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       Omg vans a senior .....
       Sounds like a great way to enjoy the day ..,.
       Hope you both enjoy your day together...
       Hugs kal
       #Post#: 16062--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: Jack Date: November 23, 2019, 4:19 pm
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       Big announcement time!
       Van has received an acceptance letter on his early enrollment
       application.
       He'll be attending school at the same college where Ryan will be
       a senior, but Van is required to live on campus his freshman
       year.  That's actually good, since it settles an issue we'd been
       discussing.
       Fido is Van's partner, but Fido also loves Zeke and Connor and
       Curtis, and he's certainly willing to accept me.  More
       importantly, the dogs and cats and other bunnies are all part of
       Fido's herd (but apparently not the ferrets - he doesn't care
       for those weasels, no matter how nice they try to be).  I think
       he'll be sad to have Van gone, but I think he would be miserable
       not to be here with everyone else.
       Fortunately, Van will be close enough he can come home on a
       regular basis without a huge problem.  Of course, that will
       depend on his practice schedule and what performances he ends up
       doing, but it'll still be good for him to be able to visit
       occasionally - for both of them.
       Oh, and just to be sure, Van decided that being a vet would be
       really hard on him (seeing that many animals in bad conditions),
       so he is majoring in piano.  Right now, he's getting a BA in
       Piano Performance, but he's planning to use some of his
       electives to work towards a teaching certificate as a fall back
       position.  I have no trouble with him moving home for a year or
       so while he does auditions and everything, but I'm not worried
       about that right now, and neither is he.
       #Post#: 16071--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: db105 Date: November 23, 2019, 9:54 pm
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       That's great! I hope he'll enjoy the school.
       #Post#: 16075--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: Jack Date: November 24, 2019, 7:50 am
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       [quote author=db105 link=topic=230.msg16071#msg16071
       date=1574567643]
       That's great! I hope he'll enjoy the school.
       [/quote]
       He should.
       I have an old friend in that area (he and I used to be partners
       in a comic shop more than 20 years ago, but he bought me out
       over time).  It's a good area with a lot to do.  Better for him,
       Ryan attends the same school, has been there for several years,
       and can show him around.
       #Post#: 16088--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: kalico Date: November 25, 2019, 11:36 am
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       Congratulations to van
       I’m happy he will be close as I bet his furry family will also
       be... lol
       Hugs kal
       #Post#: 30490--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: Jack Date: February 25, 2025, 11:51 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Van   28-Feb-02
       F/A
       He's about to turn 23.  I still remember giving him his first
       spanking or the look on his face when he found out it was okay
       for boy's to have stuffies or the way he reacted to Bryce
       assaulting his Spanky Bear.
       Van is going to be graduating college this spring.  He graduated
       high school on time in 2020, even though it wasn't as exciting a
       graduation as it should have been, we still managed a small,
       socially distanced party.  This year, we're going to give him
       the celebration all the other boys usually get when they leave
       high school.  Mickey (who's going by Misha again, but he still
       let's us call him Mickey) was able to get several weeks of
       vacation approved, and he'll be here for it, then, when he heads
       back home, Van's going with him, and they're going to do a
       cultural tour of several European countries, as well as a few
       more physical adventures.
       Van took five years to graduate college, but not because he had
       to figure out what he wanted to do.  He will be graduating with
       a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and a minor in... art
       leadership and entrepreneurship (???) as well as a teaching
       certificate.
       Upon graduation, he already has his next stop planned - he's
       coming home for a break year.  He'll be living here again.  He's
       been hired by the Bransom School District to teach music, and
       he'll be giving private lessons (approved through the school
       system and BCA).  He had two major reasons for doing that. He's
       almost positive he wants to pursue his masters, but he felt like
       he really needed a break (and I okayed it financially), and he
       wants to spend time putting out his resume and audition videos,
       though he does already have a number of them done.
       #Post#: 30501--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Van Wells
       By: db105 Date: February 25, 2025, 7:31 pm
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       Thanks for the update! Van was the littlest for a long time,
       when I started following your blog. 23 already!
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