9 minute read
Tassel Turner
EMPTY
design: OMARI FOOTE, associate editor JAYLEE DAVIS, co-editor-in-chief
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NESTERS
What happens when the last bird leaves the nest?
When seniors part for college, all eyes are often on them. And for good reason. They are approaching a new chapter in their lives, one that they have worked hard towards all throughout high school. But once the last tears are shed, the graduation parties quiet down, and the last planes take off to all the exciting places that will be the new homes of the class of 2020.
But once every bird leaves the nest, what happens to those who are left behind?
What do their parents do now? For 18 years, parents have been preparing for this moment when their bird leaves the nest. Does that mean the transition is always easy? Laura Foster, mother of Alpha Omega Heath Foster ‘20, said, “I don’t know if it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be weird. You have no particular schedule. I’m going to have to reinvent that.” While what she looks forward to comes with a spot of hesitation, what she will miss comes easily.
“Well, obviously, it’s his fabulous sense of humor,” she almost immediately responded, “He has a very dry wit. He always has an interesting take on things. And that I will miss most. It’s a sense of humor and just his, you know, his general perspective on things. It’s always interesting and always well-thought out, quite frankly.”
But along with Heath’s “fabulous humor” is the childhood memories that will grow fonder in his absence. Laura describes Heath as a “a great baby. He was. Easy, easy, easy, baby. He was just cute and sweet and fun. And we all adored him.” To characterize Heath’s easy-going nature, Laura said, “We used to call him Switzerland. He was our neutral country. Everybody wanted to be friends with Heath, even if they didn’t want to be friends with each other.” Since Reese has been in high school this has been the longest time, “that they’ve... been in the same place. So that’s been really good to see the bright, the silver lining of a pandemic.”
Heath is the youngest of two siblings, Bryn Foster, who is the oldest and Reese, who followed her. Recalling the memories, one of Laura and Heath’s favorite shared memories is a mother-son trip they took to Disney for his seventh birthday.
When asked about her other children, Heath answered first. “Reese is the big adventurer. He’s been to Nepal, Patagonia. He loves camping, snowboarding. Maybe not the greatest people person, but he likes to keep more of himself and has like a small group of friends. But I’d say he’s the bucket list kind of guy.” About Bryn Foster, Heath calls her “also outdoorsy,” and Laura cuts in to say, “She’s an academic.” “She’s the smartest out of us three by far. I’d say she’s studying for an exam right now.” Altogether as a family unit, Laura thinks their dynamic works well. When asked his personal definition of family Heath responded, “obviously the people. But I’d say it’s much more the traditions, the experiences. It’s what makes your family unique from any other family… I think it’s more of that. Just memories and those connections.” “I woke him up early in the morning and we -- the two of us -- flew to Disneyworld and spent two days touring, doing Disney,” she said, “He had only been there when he was super young. You know, with his siblings. And I just decided he needed to go by himself and do all of the Disney he wanted.” Recalling his memories, Heath’s treasured memories from HIES as an Alpha Omega start early. “I remember [in] kindergarten, we had two Hot Wheels cars, and during recess, you would have to race to the back to get the Hot Wheels cars and like if you got it, it would be the most fun you’d have it the entire day and everyone one be jealous of you.” Another tender moment is the Halloween parade, participating first as a primary schooler and then again as a senior. “Will and I were Harry and Ron from Harry Potter. And then we did that again. That was really fun to come full circle.”
Laura continues, “I think it is the traditions, it’s the stories, it’s the funny little inside jokes and things that happen that nobody outside of your little nuclear family know about. But when you see something and everybody busts out laughing, you know, you all know you’re thinking the same thing.”
While the current COVID crisis may put a strain on some families, Laura finds it has only helped her family stay in touch more.
“I hope they all keep the three of them, keep those sorts of things going as they spread out and go their different ways that they remember to to stay in touch and hang out and be goofy. The pandemic was good for that,” Laura said. Now everything truly comes full circle as Heath, at HI since he was three, parting the school after a decade and a half.
Before her last bird leaves the nest, off to Elon University, Laura wants Heath to know one thing.
“I want him to be confident in the fact that he is loved and he is supported and that he is capable and that he will go on to do the great things he’s supposed to do. And just to be open to new opportunities and experiences when they present themselves, don’t automatically say no. Say yes to things you may be uncomfortable with,” she said, “OK. Within reason for this. But you know what? Just to go forth, kind of no strings attached and see what’s next.” █
40 | OPINION 20 20 S enior Words of wisdom and memories from members of the Class of 2020
jaylee davis co-editor-in-chief 3 years as a C&G journalist
When senior year started, I was desperately counting down the days. Now, in the final week -- as final projects and essays pile up, nostalgic posts flood my feeds, I only cling to the days and the memories. What I thought I was so ready to shed, like clothes that have grown too tight, has become my second skin. The honest thing about it is that, as cliche as it sounds, I never imagined feeling that way. There was no movie magic moment when I first walked through Groesbeck or tread upon Baker. It was quite the opposite. I didn’t feel like I belonged at HI, until I did. It didn’t feel like a second home, until it did. I didn’t know that I met my family, only until it was time to leave the nest. But maybe it was in sophomore year, hanging out around Mrs. Cruce’s office when there was no room in the commons -- our class the biggest yet. Or maybe it was on the first day of senior year when we ran out on the field, repping our house colors. Or hiking the mountains in Bolivia chewing on coca leaves and stevia -- and our reward at the end, gazing out on Lake Titicaca on the sleeping dragon. It’s not like everything was a scene out of High School Musical. High school was hard. Whether it was freshman year where I hid in the bathroom to call my mommy during Geometry Honors or the moment when shocked, Coach Cefferati caught me saying something inappropriate at lunch. Or that time where Mrs. Maxwell, gesturing with an expo marker, when it flew straight into my eye. Or that time when my phone rang during Mrs. Reiss’ Algebra II class… And I answered it. Yeah, things get awkward. And sad. But that’s what makes it so special. Because if everything was picture perfect, it wouldn’t be the same HI we know and love. Speaking of things I know and love, there is something special about the class of 2020. Our reputation as the rowdiest, most athletic, goofiest class ever -- although I may not be some of these things (especially athletic, sorry Coach Thomas. You tried your best)- these qualities are what make a house a home. We do have our questionable moments however. Like watching senior boys, literally grown adults, bruise their fingers by dropping hydroflasks on them from the top of STEM. I’m looking at you, Matthew. But there are also the most iconic moments, like switching uniforms and pissing the class of 2019 off with our mere existence. Through it all, I have never seen pure support and positive chaotic energy like I have with this class. I know we are destined for greatness and I am over excited to see what we become. But this editorial wouldn’t be complete without a few shoutouts. I would first, above all, give a shoutout to my mom. My number one cheerleader. Although you may be scared, I promise, I will be fine in DC. My next shoutout goes to Mrs. Wright-Udoh, who took me to school almost everyday -- making my attendance at HI possible. I am not sure you will ever know how much those early morning naps meant to me. To my friends (you know who you are, if I named you all it would undoubtedly start a fight), thank you for being by my side, through my ugliest and my best. There is no me without y’all. Speaking of my ugliest, shoutout to Mrs. Cruce for getting me throughout all of high school. I literally wouldn’t have made it here without you. To Mrs. Elms, my second mom, thank you for investing in me. It’s going to be heart wrenching to never walk into another Journ class and hear, “hey, you guys!” And other special teachers include Mr. Jayaraj and Mr. Bevington for leading our weird and wacky homeroom; Dr. K for making Latin even more special to me (Gratias tibi ago); to Mrs. Reiss for teaching the only math class I will probably ever enjoy, Mr. Boltri for teaching the only science class I will probably ever enjoy; to Mr. Lewis for dealing with all of my questions during APUSH and being all around awesomesauce, Mrs. Rowe for being the best dean ever, Mr. Yarsawich and Mr. Vincent for being simply the best and endowing me with the most wisdom out of all my teachers. If I continued, this piece would be as long as Jane Eyre (I’m looking at you Dr. Swann). But if you ever taught me or tutored me, just know I am infinitely grateful for the ways in which you have molded my mind. We could have never expected it to end this way, but it is. And there’s nothing we can do about it. Corona may take away our classes, transform our school into Khan Academy. But it can never take away the memories. So to the school that has tested me, loved me, and helped me grow, I say good bye. Through it all, best and worst, I know, deep in my heart, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. █
