Is it your symbol?

This was a different kind of spring break for the Rose family. There was no Disney World. There was no cabin in Gatlinburg. There was no spring cleaning or planting in the yard. IT was a strange spring break because it was, obviously, our first one without the member of the Rose family who loved spring break the most. And it was also strange because it was our first family trip with just the three of us. But what made it most strange was our purpose this spring break. The purpose this spring break was to tour colleges so that Rosebro1 could enter his senior year next year knowing which college he wants to attend. We visited many schools and we even stayed at the beach for a couple of days. We missed our 4^th party member but we did our best to share funny memories and tried to be as normal as possible. For those who have been there, you’ll understand, but there isn’t anything normal about looking at places your (what seems like yesterday) baby will be moving for years. And the feeling of knowing he probably will never live at home again for any length of time is strangest of all.

Almost every trip with the Rose family has included some sports event. This trip was no different. When we arrived at the beach on Sunday evening, we found a place to watch some March madness.  We had a great time with lots of laughter and even a friendly brawl with another family cheering for Michigan State as we pulled for Duke. It was fun and it was a great game. After visiting USC, my son, who had been raised by the daughter of a Clemson football player, decided that he loves USC. So in an effort to change his mind, we went to Clemson for an annual family tradition. We met my sister and her family for the orange-white game. I wasn’t particularly into the game all that much. I was talking with some friends and my sister and I was interested in the friends my boys went to hang out with and to be completely honest it was more fun watching some of the players who are seniors and no longer playing in the game. But even though this wasn’t a real game, these players reminded me of a really good lesson.

When the 4^th quarter started, even in a spring scrimmage, all the players put up 4 fingers. This is the universal signal that the 4^th quarter is about to start. Games are won-and sadly lost- in the 4^th quarter. Not that the other quarters don’t matter. They do. They get you to the 4^th quarter. They keep you in the game. They give the chance you need to be successful in the 4^th quarter. The 4^th quarter matters.

As I saw these players all holding up the symbol to give it all you got and leave everything you have on the field in the 4^th quarter, I thought about starting our final quarter here at school. The final quarter is hard. There is so much that must be done in 40 days of school. We have all the end of the year testing, field day, end of the year programs, class rosters, classroom breakdowns, end of the year paperwork and countless other tasks to complete. Yet, the success-and in so many ways the failure- of our school year comes down to how we finish. So I beg of you to hold up those 4 fingers and leave everything on the “field” in this last quarter. Finish strong. Give our kids every chance-every chance they deserve-to be successful.