[afraidfortherepublic]

One of our sons graduated from Texas Tech in Engineering. It was a good school for him. Of our 4 children, it was the only one (at the bachelor’s level) where the Dean came over to us at the reception after graduation and acted as if he actually knew our son. Now our grandson wants to go to Tech. Hopefully he’ll get a scholarship because it will be out of state for the GS.

I have to tell a nice story about Tech and the humanity of thier professors. Duruing finals week my son’s last year, one of his former roomates (and our former neighbor) was found passed out in front of the TV in his apartment. His current roommates called MY son to figure out what to do. The young man (20) was admitted to the hospital and was found to be suffering from advanced testicular cancer.

My son was disignated to be the go-between with the stricken man’s family until they could get to Lubbock from Houston, and our son began a 24 hour watch at the hospital. Arrangements were made to fly the young man to Houston for treatment at M.D. Anderson, but he died before the plane landed in Lubbock. Our son accompanied the body to the plane and supervised as it was loaded aboard.

During all this chaos, our son encountered one of his professors at the hospital who asked why he was there. Joe explained, and the prof said, “Don’t worry about your final exam. I already know enough about your work to give you your final grade. Just take care of your friend.”

In the 3 days that Kevin lived after being hospitalized, at least a dozen of his high school friends trekked to Lubbock to visit and to grieve. They all crashed at Joe’s apartment.

I thought it was more than decent for Joe’s prof to give him a pass on his final exam, and I’ve always respected and appreciated them for that.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Sorry for all the typos in that. I guess I was getting emotional again.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Wow, that is amazing. When my older sister was a freshman at Tech our Father died very suddenly in December, a week before finals. She, of course, immediately came home. I'm sure it was a school policy, but she was allowed to take finals the following January when she returned to campus. I always thought that was very nice of them.

Your son must have really been a strong kid to do all of that for his friend.

[secret garden]

You raised a fine young man.

[xsmommy]

oh so sad, but your son sounds like a great guy. my youngest is 19 right now and i cannot imagine her having that sort of responsibility.