When Jake was in 8th grade I had Mark take him to a DMACC Automotive and Diesel college visit. He got to tour the college and sit in on a half day tour. He thought it was awesome and decided that is what he wanted to do. I knew they had a high school program where kids could start their Junior year and take courses for 2 years as part of the program and finish with a couple years of college earning their license or degree. I put a lot of time, thought, and prayer into the idea. Being open enrolled in Ogden high school, he had the perfect opportunity. I had a lot of concerns and was hesitant, yet I wanted to do what was best for Jake. I decided it would be better for him as a high schooler to start into the program to decide if it was really what he wanted to do with his future. It would also be a huge savings taking the classes and having the school pay for it.
Mark and I both discussed it and agreed to give it a try before asking Jake what he thought. Jake liked the idea and wanted to apply. I was hesitant in that I knew it would take a large chunk of his day, he would have little time for homeschool. He would still have several subjects to get through at home. It also meant he would be tied up in the afternoons, keeping him from working at the mechanic that he enjoys. It would also mean he couldn't help in the field as much and we couldn't just take random days off like we are used to. I was also concerned for the course itself, would it be too hard, too time consuming, and maybe Jake would not like it?. I wondered if the other students would be mean to him.
We were late getting enrolled into the class because the high school counselor was gone until the first week of school. I had to have her permission and the principal in order for him to enroll. I didn't even know if Jake would be able to get into the course.
Late August, I felt like everything was lining up, he had a couple hours in the morning of homeschool, then class in Ogden at 10:30, a small break in between to get lunch, then class in Ames at 12:50. I knew it was part of God's plan as things were working out. In fact things went awesome! In the first week, Jake met a friend, Keaton and they started car pooling everyday. They met in Boone with one other boy and drove together all semester. Jake and Keaton got to be good friends that spent all their free time working in our shop on their vehicles. He also rode with Jake all fall during harvest and started working for us. Jake made friends in his class easily. The boys all drove trucks to class, wore cowboy boots and hats. He felt like he found his people. The boys in the class were from all over, Webster City, Ames, Nevada, Gilbert, and Boone. He would come home with lots of stories, many of them about the guys and funny things they did or said. Sometimes a group of them would go out to eat. The class was enjoyable for Jake, he knew a lot already from all his experience and was learning things that interest him. He was also getting good grades. The instructor was nice and lenient, helping them as much as possible. Jake took it serious and spent many late nights on his laptop reading assignments and taking quizzes.
So many prayers were answered, he is loving class, doing well, and making friends.
Mark and I both discussed it and agreed to give it a try before asking Jake what he thought. Jake liked the idea and wanted to apply. I was hesitant in that I knew it would take a large chunk of his day, he would have little time for homeschool. He would still have several subjects to get through at home. It also meant he would be tied up in the afternoons, keeping him from working at the mechanic that he enjoys. It would also mean he couldn't help in the field as much and we couldn't just take random days off like we are used to. I was also concerned for the course itself, would it be too hard, too time consuming, and maybe Jake would not like it?. I wondered if the other students would be mean to him.
We were late getting enrolled into the class because the high school counselor was gone until the first week of school. I had to have her permission and the principal in order for him to enroll. I didn't even know if Jake would be able to get into the course.
Late August, I felt like everything was lining up, he had a couple hours in the morning of homeschool, then class in Ogden at 10:30, a small break in between to get lunch, then class in Ames at 12:50. I knew it was part of God's plan as things were working out. In fact things went awesome! In the first week, Jake met a friend, Keaton and they started car pooling everyday. They met in Boone with one other boy and drove together all semester. Jake and Keaton got to be good friends that spent all their free time working in our shop on their vehicles. He also rode with Jake all fall during harvest and started working for us. Jake made friends in his class easily. The boys all drove trucks to class, wore cowboy boots and hats. He felt like he found his people. The boys in the class were from all over, Webster City, Ames, Nevada, Gilbert, and Boone. He would come home with lots of stories, many of them about the guys and funny things they did or said. Sometimes a group of them would go out to eat. The class was enjoyable for Jake, he knew a lot already from all his experience and was learning things that interest him. He was also getting good grades. The instructor was nice and lenient, helping them as much as possible. Jake took it serious and spent many late nights on his laptop reading assignments and taking quizzes.
So many prayers were answered, he is loving class, doing well, and making friends.
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