05-14-2020, 09:32 PM
In a different year, there would have been a triumphant walk across the
stage to thunderous applause and a party to be remembered. In 2020, it
was a rather humble, "I am done." as he walked up from his room where he had finished his last semester of college.
And then he shared this video he
received from the dean of his college that he was named the University's Outstanding Musician. It hit me at that point, my son completed his degree in 4 years, with a 3.75 GPA and has a job lined up. Pretty dang impressive for anyone in this day. Considering the odds that were against him from 8 months old, this is barely shy of a miracle.
As a 20 year cancer survivor, blind musician, and now a college graduate, it sucks that we didn't get to celebrate at his university. He did the work, on a foundation laid by his mother who would never give up on him, and with the immense aid of his amazing vision specialist that adapted his material from grade school all the way through high school. She even learned calculus with him as she adapted the text to Braille for him. And thanks to the school of music who were excited to take on the challenges of a blind student, willing to adapt and learn and grow themselves. Believe me, it isn't easy taking material geared towards sight, and make it translate to auditory only.
So with a special thanks to all those who affected his life along the way, and to his indomitable spirit, let me share my joy with my fellow fans here, the graduation of my son.
He is an accomplished pianist/keyboardist, going into film scoring of all things and dang good at it. He was part of an ensemble that has an album on itunes, composed one of the songs for that album. He composed the score and did the mixing for a 30 minute documentary for a local campaign to end domestic violence.
stage to thunderous applause and a party to be remembered. In 2020, it
was a rather humble, "I am done." as he walked up from his room where he had finished his last semester of college.
And then he shared this video he
received from the dean of his college that he was named the University's Outstanding Musician. It hit me at that point, my son completed his degree in 4 years, with a 3.75 GPA and has a job lined up. Pretty dang impressive for anyone in this day. Considering the odds that were against him from 8 months old, this is barely shy of a miracle.
As a 20 year cancer survivor, blind musician, and now a college graduate, it sucks that we didn't get to celebrate at his university. He did the work, on a foundation laid by his mother who would never give up on him, and with the immense aid of his amazing vision specialist that adapted his material from grade school all the way through high school. She even learned calculus with him as she adapted the text to Braille for him. And thanks to the school of music who were excited to take on the challenges of a blind student, willing to adapt and learn and grow themselves. Believe me, it isn't easy taking material geared towards sight, and make it translate to auditory only.
So with a special thanks to all those who affected his life along the way, and to his indomitable spirit, let me share my joy with my fellow fans here, the graduation of my son.
He is an accomplished pianist/keyboardist, going into film scoring of all things and dang good at it. He was part of an ensemble that has an album on itunes, composed one of the songs for that album. He composed the score and did the mixing for a 30 minute documentary for a local campaign to end domestic violence.
