Running Start

So awhile back Elizabeth had decided she wanted to do Running Start at the college.  To do that she had to pass a couple of tests that said she could learn at the college level.  So she procrastinated a bit, but she got it done and with a retest of one test she passed.  All good to go.  She picked her classes and was signed up.
She started the summer looking for a job.  She told me it was a lot harder than she thought it would be.  I'm rather nonchalant as I don't think she needs one but I support her getting one.  Then she told me she couldn't go to Running Start if she didn't have a job so she could pay for her fees and bus passes.  Wait, what........ So I listened a bit more and told her I supported her in whatever she decided to do.  Go to high school or do Running Start.  And we left it there.
For a couple of days anyway.  There was just something about the conversation. Teenagers are hard to read sometime.  So I broached it again.  I was going to just leave it in her ball court, but then thought maybe she wanted me to say something else.  So I started with....is she scared.  It's a new challenge.  Then I said always take the money out of the equation.  If she wants it she will find a way and it will work out on the money.  I didn't tell her that I would pay her fees if that is what she decided to do.  I wanted her to work on it first.  I have already offered to pay for the books and she knew that.  Then I told her....never again would she get this opportunity to have two years of college paid for by the state.  And if she wanted a college education she should highly consider it.  If she didn't plan on a degree then there would not really be a point..... We talked about the fear.  I told her to get past it.  Don't waffle.  Make a choice, make a goal and work towards it (seems to be my thing lately). So she wants to get a degree in business.  Then we talked about high school.  I simply asked her if she liked it. And again told her I supported whatever she decided to do.
I've always loved Running Start.  Wish it would have been around when I was in high school.  I actually paid to take a class at Clark when I was in high school.  This is such a great program, especially if there aren't things in high school important to you, like sports.
Yesterday she was excited to tell me that she is doing Running Start.  She had turned in her SSI paperwork and almost all her fees were waived.  We again touched on the bus pass that is attached to her student ID and costs like $12 a quarter....changes all the time so about.  And it is good for all quarter.  No paying C-tran monthly.  She found out one of her classes was wrong and they got it fixed and she is no longer on a waitlist.  She is ready to rock it.  We talked about books and how she knows someone in the warehouse who can pull the very nice used books as they come through...sometimes they are brand new.  She kept telling me I was right.....it would all work out if she really wanted it.
I loved seeing her excited about something and working towards it. You get more out of it if you do that.
If it is important to you, you will find a way,
If it isn't, you will find an excuse.

And again I am aware that it is something that is important to me.  I can't make her do anything, but I see the value in it and am willing to do what I can to make it possible for her without just completely handing it to her.