Shaping His Destiny!
It is a major milestone in the life of our family. Our minor grandson, just a month shy of his eighteenth birthday, took wings and flew away to the United States from Dubai for his college studies.
It is indeed a difficult life choice for all the members of our family. The situation is even more stressful because of the ongoing pandemic and also because he is my elder daughter's only child. It was his first long flight to a far away land, to explore the new world that Christopher Columbus had conquered five centuries earlier, and to learn from real-life experiences of an alien culture and not just from the classrooms.
It is a voyage that will shape his destiny. Thanks to Etihad Airlines, for his 787 Dreamliner flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago he rode in style in a chauffeur driven car from Dubai, cleared the customs and immigrations for the US at Abu Dhabi itself, and hence checked his baggage through to the final destination OKC. Etihad has the only US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in the Middle East.
Earlier, we had explored flights from Dubai and found that most airlines had an additional stopover in Europe, many flights are sold out, and the fares are exorbitant - just for the two weeks period when many US colleges would be reopening. What is comforting for the parents though is the meticulous planning and preparation that the Oklahoma University authorities have made for welcoming the incoming students.
Through a full-day online orientation workshop for the freshers, the authorities explained the detailed plans they have drawn up. The academic coach, health coach, and the money coach appointed by the University addressed the students explaining their roles.
The parents were happy to know that there will be a Welcome counter at the local airport manned from 10 am to midnight for a week to receive the students. Then there are Facebook Groups - one providing an avenue for parents to post any questions; another one for Indian Admits; one offering pro bono consulting services, etc.
On the whole, the WOW effect, is just amazing! The Oklahoma University (3,000 acres, 30,000 students, and 130 year history) has gone above and beyond the expectations of the students and parents to deliver a great service experience.
Hats off to the outstanding American education system with the world’s largest international student population, that allows for invaluable academic, professional, and personal growth and that will help a student become more outgoing, confident, communicative, and ready to face any kind of challenge.
I hope that the character strengths of humility, gratitude, honesty, fairness, kindness, teamwork, forgiveness... he has acquired in the childhood will provide him with the spiritual moorings as an adult while negotiating the dark waters of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex... prevalent in the American society.
What we often call our destiny is truly our character. Peter Schutz, the former chief executive officer of Porsche said:
It is indeed a difficult life choice for all the members of our family. The situation is even more stressful because of the ongoing pandemic and also because he is my elder daughter's only child. It was his first long flight to a far away land, to explore the new world that Christopher Columbus had conquered five centuries earlier, and to learn from real-life experiences of an alien culture and not just from the classrooms.
It is a voyage that will shape his destiny. Thanks to Etihad Airlines, for his 787 Dreamliner flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago he rode in style in a chauffeur driven car from Dubai, cleared the customs and immigrations for the US at Abu Dhabi itself, and hence checked his baggage through to the final destination OKC. Etihad has the only US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in the Middle East.
Earlier, we had explored flights from Dubai and found that most airlines had an additional stopover in Europe, many flights are sold out, and the fares are exorbitant - just for the two weeks period when many US colleges would be reopening. What is comforting for the parents though is the meticulous planning and preparation that the Oklahoma University authorities have made for welcoming the incoming students.
Through a full-day online orientation workshop for the freshers, the authorities explained the detailed plans they have drawn up. The academic coach, health coach, and the money coach appointed by the University addressed the students explaining their roles.
- The Academic Coach helps in choosing a major towards a career, designing and implementing academic plans, development of writing skills …
- The Health Coach facilitates health and wellness coaching, disease prevention, vaccination, healthy lifestyles, clinical services, healthcare access, setting physical-activity goals, advice on mental health, and dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.
- The Money Coach provides financial literacy including finding scholarships, budgeting, choosing jobs, debt management, and fiscal responsibility.
The parents were happy to know that there will be a Welcome counter at the local airport manned from 10 am to midnight for a week to receive the students. Then there are Facebook Groups - one providing an avenue for parents to post any questions; another one for Indian Admits; one offering pro bono consulting services, etc.
On the whole, the WOW effect, is just amazing! The Oklahoma University (3,000 acres, 30,000 students, and 130 year history) has gone above and beyond the expectations of the students and parents to deliver a great service experience.
Hats off to the outstanding American education system with the world’s largest international student population, that allows for invaluable academic, professional, and personal growth and that will help a student become more outgoing, confident, communicative, and ready to face any kind of challenge.
I hope that the character strengths of humility, gratitude, honesty, fairness, kindness, teamwork, forgiveness... he has acquired in the childhood will provide him with the spiritual moorings as an adult while negotiating the dark waters of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex... prevalent in the American society.
What we often call our destiny is truly our character. Peter Schutz, the former chief executive officer of Porsche said:
“Hire Character; Train Skills”.
Wishing you all the best, my grandson, to become a fine human being!
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