On Friday, May 2, parents of the Monarchs attended the Senior Parent College Coffee Celebration in the Innovation Lab to commemorate their children’s final month of high school. The event began at 8:30 a.m., just as classes started, and lasted for an hour.
Parents were able to mingle and discuss their plans for the coming years, remembering their children’s time at NDB as well as the many memories they have from before high school began. As many parents and guardians are incredibly involved in the lives of their kids, most assisted in some way during the college application process, whether it was as an essay editor or by assisting them in developing their list. Due to this, they wanted to celebrate the accomplishments made by the Class of 2025.
“I think the journey is definitely felt by the whole family,” said Dean of Academic Advisement Kristi Rossi. “So, as much as the students are excited and relieved, you know, to have a decision and know, kind of, their plans for next year, I think the parents are feeling that as well, and … it’s probably a little more bittersweet for them, you know, … thinking about their kid leaving. But, you know, obviously, they’re still really excited about, you know, whatever outcome they have for college.”
Only a handful of parents ended up attending the Coffee Celebration, leading to a much more intimate setting than the event had in prior years. This allowed them to socialize more together, discussing their children’s experiences with applying to schools and deciding on a college, while also thanking Rossi for her assistance.
“I did not go through this whole process. I started out at a [junior college], so I never went through the whole process. And, I thought it was great with how Kristi Rossi supported us all … And, so, it was great to have her support and just to go and see other parents and kind of hear what it was like for them as well,” said Kathy Ventura, mother of senior Ady Ventura.
The event included a variety of fruits and pastries as well as yogurt and coffee for attendees to eat and drink while they talked. Many parents were struck by how little time their daughters have left at NDB before graduation.
“I kind of tear up every day. No joke,” said Ventura. “So, it’s pretty crazy [to think about her leaving], but it’s exciting. So, I’m happy to see that now she’s a lot more relaxed, that she’s made a decision … Yeah, there’s other things that she needs to do in terms of the whole checklist before you go off, [like] finding a roommate being the next thing. But, that’s all exciting now, too.”
As the Senior Parent College Coffee Celebration came to an end, parents were left to reflect upon their pride in their children in these few weeks before the Monarchs graduate and spend their futures away from home for the first time.
