The Annual Migration of the Elusive "College Bird"

It happens every year around this time; those little bright-eyed kids who were just scampering off to their Kindergarten classrooms about a week or so ago are, somehow, now leaving for college.  Most parents didn’t even realize their kids’ little feet could suddenly reach the accelerator in the car that they’ve just loaded down.

For students like Kristen Knowles it’s a very exciting and emotional time.

“In a way, it is hard,” says Kristen. “I’ve lived in this house most of my life.  But I’m looking forward to meeting new people and being totally on my own.  I’ve not done that before.” 

Kristen, the , had considered Vanderbilt, but opted to study Human Relations, with a possible double major in music, at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina.

“And I’m really hoping I’ll have a chance to study abroad as well,” she adds.

Even though she’s quite confident about leaving home for college, Kristen’s a little concerned about how her parents will cope.  Her older sister, Kelly, who was Norcross High’s 2009 Valedictorian, is already at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and with Kristen being the youngest, her folks will now be “empty nesters.”  But she expects that, given today’s technology, she’ll be in touch regularly.

“And with my sister only about an hour away in North Carolina,” Kristen explains, “we’ll be able to travel home together.”

One of Kristen’s friends and fellow Norcross High classmate, Jack Turner, will be a lot closer to home.  Jack will attend Georgia Tech, but he says his mom seems a little, well...emotional about it all.  Of course, part of that could be the fact that both of Jack’s parents attended The University of Georgia at Athens.

“I actually think my mom may be a little happy that I’m going to Georgia Tech instead of Georgia because it’s a little closer,” Jack says with a laugh.  “She can actually stop by and say ‘Hi’ and have lunch.”

Though Jack will be a drummer in the band, his major will be Public Policy.  And he admits to being a bit nervous, and a bit excited – all at the same time.

“Some days it’s like, ‘Oh, my goodness, I’m going to be on my own’ and some days it’s like ‘Yea, I’m going to be on my own,’” Jack smiles.

He’s already getting a taste of being on his own by having to go out to buy the things he’ll need at college; everything from standard school supplies to a rug for his dorm room – and laundry detergent.

“Which was a little bizarre,” he says.  In fact, Jack’s been handling most of the logistical items himself; getting his doctor’s appointment for a check-up out of the way, learning how to cook and finding out exactly where he’ll be staying.

“In the dorms right across from The Varsity,” Jack says with anticipation in his voice, “and I’m really looking forward to that.  But really, I feel like I am becoming more independent, rather than just being a kid that my parents take care of.”

Interestingly, both Jack and Kristen said they felt more relaxed than usual this summer.

“Yeah, it seemed like I finally had a real break,” says Jack.

Kristen agreed, though she kept her job at Old Navy to continue to earn money for college. 

So, the highly anticipated annual migration is set to begin; the young birds testing their wings and leaving their nests for the first time.

“I think I’m ready for it,” says Kristen, who, like Jack, always seems to look toward new horizons with optimism. 

“Maybe I’ll even take up a new hobby,” she says.