Sunday was the big day… we dropped Dominic off at Trinity University in San Antonio so he could take a college-level psychology class through Duke TIP. Family and friends, you can follow his progress through their blog, Term 2, he’s already in a couple of photos! Mom and Anna came in a separate car so they could see the dorm then head home. We got Dominic settled, then Curtis and I stayed for the parent orientation, where we learned that this class is equivalent to a year of high school credit or a semester of college credit (wow!!!). We then did a quick HEB trip to get him some groceries once we realized he had a small fridge, microwave, and tons of storage in his room. Hugs goodbye then we headed out. It was really hard leaving him behind!
Ready to Go to Pseudo-College
Curtis brought Dominic a hat from Panama and we got Dominic some new clothes for his big adventure (three weeks is a long time!). He was looking pretty darn spiffy for his drop off at Trinity University in San Antonio. He was ready to take his college-level psychology class through Duke TIP, make some new friends, and have a life-changing experience!
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.8 | 1/320 | ISO 64
Checking In
The Duke TIP administrative team and residential staff made checking in so easy. Everyone was super nice and very helpful. I was having butterflies of nervousness in my tummy so I can only imagine how anxious Dominic was feeling! You can see mom and Anna in the background on the left and poor Curtis got caught in my wide angle lens distortion (sorry, honey!).
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/3.2 | 1/250 | ISO 1600
Found His Room
The kids in the program are all 7th and 8th graders, boys and girls, living on campus in the Trinity University dorm rooms. We met Dominic’s RC (residential counselor), Rashad, and found his room… 214. Kinda looks like a hotel hallway, doesn’t it?
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 1600
Saying Goodbye to the Girls
Directly across from his room is a large lounge with a full-size fridge, stove, sofas, and a TV. We hung out here while Dominic got moved into his dorm. Once he got his bed made and some stuff unpacked, he came over to say goodbye to mom and Anna. Look how tall he’s gotten!
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 1600
Meet the Roommate and Settle In
Curtis and I attended the parent orientation in the dining hall where the staff outlined the program, the schedule, and introduced us to all of the instructors and assistants. There are about 180 students in the Term 2 program and they keep these kids busy from 7 am to 10 pm! After orientation, Curtis and I did a short grocery run to pick up extra supplies for the dorm then headed back. Dominic’s roommate, Keale, got there before we did and seems like a super nice kid. Both boys were chilling on their beds playing on their phones.
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 2500
Huge Room and Storage
We were all surprised by how big the dorms are at Trinity. Each room has a mini-fridge, microwave, and tons of storage. They share a bathroom with the room next door, so they don’t have to go far to shower. We got Dominic stocked up on bottled water, some snacks, and a bit of fruit. We got to see the dining hall during orientation and were really impressed with the fresh fruit selection as well as how large it was. Dominic should be really comfortable during his stay.
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 2500
Our Turn to Say Goodbye
Well it was our turn to say goodbye… and it was hard! We are incredibly proud of Dominic and so happy we can help his have this opportunity. As we walked out, Curtis got a little tear in his eye thinking about the not-to-distant future when we will be leaving him at college for real. We are certainly cherishing the time we have left. <3
Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 2500
Thanks for looking!
