College - grace grits and gardening

Life is a Highway

May 21, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

It’s true. Life is a highway, and a portion of mine has been spent on Interstate 35 from Dallas to Austin. Dallas holds the most memories, some so fresh I can remember particular smells or what I thought at the time. Some memories hit me unexpectedly, carrying me back twenty years or more.

Waco is midway between Dallas and Austin. We speed past the exit but I marvel at the obvious changes since I was a young college student. The interstate is lined with restaurants, Baylor’s impressive new stadium, construction everywhere, but still my eyes seek out those parts that were mine. The Brazos River. My dorm, Alexander Hall. Pat Neff, glowing green after a game day win.

I left little pieces of myself there, but we have no time to stop and visit. Not this time. Our daughter graduates from University of Texas Law School this afternoon. Her whole life has pointed to this moment. As a kid she was focused, centered, wise beyond her years. Austin is her place filled with her memories.

What’s next?

We never know. Lots of life, hopefully, and maybe someday I’ll be driving this highway again headed to my granddaughter’s graduation. And my daughter will feel as proud as I do right now.

Kelsey (right) and her law school friends.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Life is a highway. Let’s do this #graduation thing! #UT16[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Rascal Flatts, Life is a Highway

Rainy Graduation Fun!

May 11, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

It was a rainy graduation, one filled with family and fun, as our youngest graduated from the University of Arkansas. Time. That was the theme running through my head. What time is everyone getting into town? What time do we need to leave for Barnhill Arena? How long will it take to graduate 500 business students?

How exactly did time fast forward? My son graduated kindergarten five minutes ago. And five minutes before that, he was born.

Future #Waltongrad

Graduation is one of those occasions that makes me stop and reflect in a life-flashing-by-sort-of-way. The music gets to me. The caps and gowns and formality of it all. I remember my high school graduation. Waiting to hear my name called. Waiting to move that tassel from one side of the cap to the other. Waiting for my time. Stepping across the stage to the beginning of something new and exciting.

And then thirty-five years later, my baby has graduated from college. I’m thankful for every second it took to get to this point. I’m grateful for my own parents who instilled an educational mindset in me. We are blessed to live where we live, to have choices, and the means to succeed. So many don’t.

And hard work. Hard work is key.

Happy Graduation to all those walking the big walk this month!

Daughter Kelsey (University of Texas School of Law J.D. Candidate Class of 2016) & Niece Taylor (Future Razorback Class of 2022)

Today the sun is shining, and the future is bright.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]I’m thinking back on our rainy #graduation weekend. #Thankful. So very thankful. #Waltongrad #UARK15 @UArkansas[/tweetthis]

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Musical Pairing:

Seals & Crofts – We May Never Pass this Way Again (My graduation song in 1980…)

What Every College Freshman Needs to Know

June 5, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Tis the season of high school graduation. My Facebook feed is filled with pictures of fresh-faced graduates and proud parents. What an exciting, bittersweet time for the entire family. Even though it’s been thirty-four (yikes) years since I graduated from high school, I remember the feeling. Freedom. My unwritten life could finally begin.

What Every College Freshman Needs to Know

via morgueFile

In a snap, my own children donned caps and gowns and graduated from high school. How did that happen so fast?

Even though they grew up in a different place and time, I did my best to prepare them for college. So far, they haven’t moved back home.

Here is my list of thirteen essential skills for every college freshman. What would you add?

How to Make Decisions. Your helicopter parent won’t be flying off to college with you. Make decisions, but don’t be afraid to change your mind.
You are NOT a Rock Star. No matter how talented and brilliant you were in high school, you will be surrounded by many, many over-achieving freshman in college.
Because you aren’t a Rock Star, you won’t be drafted by the NBA. Take time to learn who you are, but choose a major wisely. Preferably something that includes a paycheck when you graduate. If you graduate from college with a large student loan, will that job on the backend cover it? Ever?
Learn to do laundry and clean a bathroom. Do both regularly. You weren’t raised in a barn, or maybe you were, but let’s keep that a secret.
Understand how to budget money. It truly doesn’t grow on trees. No one (parents, government, professors) owes you anything.
Work hard. It still may not be good enough.
Not everyone will like you and that’s okay.
Don’t be a know it all. Listen more than you speak. But speak up in class occasionally.
Go to class. Simple.
Meet your professors. They can be your biggest allies. If they don’t know your name, they can’t.
Don’t worry about being best friends with your first roommate. But do be respectful of one another.
Be careful and smart. There will be lots of temptations. The world is full of crazy people. Don’t be one of them.
Call your mother. She misses you.

Happy Graduation! Happy Summer!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.