06.19.2013 08:54 AM

My daughter, who is amazing

 

That little person? That’s my daughter. She is amazing. Tonight, somewhat older, she graduates from high school – and, I suspect, she’ll be graduating on the honour roll.

It’s been quite a journey for her, and us, her family. From Whitehorse, to Ottawa, to Vancouver, to Toronto. And this weekend, she’s going back to camp to be a counsellor, and – after that – she’s off to Dal. She was accepted at every single university she applied to – Brock, Waterloo, Lakehead, Guelph, Trent, others – and she was offered scholarships, too. Unlike her closest friends, she has to work hard – really hard – for every “A” she got. But she got plenty.

Every single morning for years, she has gotten up at 5 a.m. to get to the swimming pool, where she turned out to be a bit of a star. She intends to try out for Dal’s vaunted swim team, and she wants to get to the Olympic trials, too. Given how hard she works at things, I think she just might make it.

She has had plenty of struggles. A few years ago, the ostensibly Christian elementary school she attended decided to have a fundraiser at an exclusive golf club down on the water. Given that the golf club had had a history of barring minorities – like First Nations people, and since our daughter is (as of last week) a certified citizen of the Carcross-Tagish First Nation in the Yukon – we objected. Some Rosedale wannabe parents fought us on that, and I fought back. We ended up pulling her out of there, and we haven’t talked to any of those snobs since.

Our daughter, meanwhile, has grown up into this calm, quiet, determined person with great taste in music (we go to all-ages punk shows together all the time, and she loves Bad Religion) and a quirky sense of humour (she and Son 3 and I can recite Scott Pilgrim vs. The World by heart).  Oh, and her bedroom is messy all the time.  And she loves hoodies and Uggs.  She’s an atheist, and she couldn’t be less interested in politics, and she thinks SFH is goofy (all of which I think is wonderful, because she arrived at those positions on her own).

So, daughter, I say to you – in the presence of the many wk.com web site-visiting folks who have gotten to know you a little bit, over the years – I am so proud of you, and I love you tons.  I can’t believe how quickly time has gone by, but it has.  And, tonight, there you will be – holding your diploma, and heading off to another part in your life, one that won’t involve your parents or brothers as much.

We’ll still be there at poolside, however, cheering you on, and forever reminding you that you are (and forever will be) so, so amazing.

26 Comments

  1. Glen says:

    Amazing post Warren and good luck to her!

  2. Arnold Murphy says:

    Congratulations to you daughter Warren, I hope she has wonderful safe adventures. It will be much quieter in your life, for a while, they usually find their way home once or twice though.

  3. Ingrid says:

    What an adorable cutie she was! Good luck to her!

  4. patrick says:

    Congrats.
    And the not interested in politics – don’t worry, it won’t last.

  5. VC says:

    I am heartened when I hear of a First Nations individual – any FN individual – attend university (or college). As a FN individual, I was the only one of 12 siblings to continue education beyond high school. I am familiar with the lengths and depths a FN person goes to just to get to where your daughter is today and the plans she’s made for her future. That door is rarely open to FNs (and all other Aboriginal peoples, for that matter). From the sounds of it, she really had to kick the door down to make her way through. I hope she never stops kicking when the doors seem closed.

  6. Lee Weiler says:

    Congratulations, Warren! A prouder father there clearly never was. Wishing her much success at Dal in beautiful Halifax.

  7. Bert says:

    Congrats to your daughter, Warren! You must be very proud. Question: is it that her friends succeed without much effort or are they lazy underacheivers? I wasn’t sure from the way you worded it.

  8. Bob Yuhasz says:

    What a great Dad!

  9. Jim Hanna says:

    Congratulations to your daughter for all her hard work and best of luck in her future.

    Good job too, by the way. Hope she doesnt’ give you too many more grey hairs…

  10. Stephen says:

    So happy to hear about here success. We, here on the east coast, will welcome her with open arms!

  11. Nasty Bob says:

    Well done kid ! Well done dad – you should be proud

  12. SmallTownON says:

    I don’t chime in very often Warren, but you just brought tears to the eyes of this teacher and dad of two girls. Congratulations to you, your daughter and the family.

  13. billg says:

    She sounds like someone who will change the world around her for the better…what more can you ask for. Job well done Dad !

  14. ernest lustig says:

    That’s what it is all about Warren. Wish her good luck from everybody at this end.

  15. Billybud says:

    What a wonderful story. Her hard work has brought your daughter success. I bet you has something to do with it too. Congrats to your family.

  16. Lynn says:

    You are a wonderful, supportive dad who has a fabulous daughter with options for a great future, which I am sure you had a great deal to do with. Mom’s are great, but some of us are “Daddy’s girls” for life and it sounds like that could be your relationship too (I am the oldest child too, hmmm). And IMO there is no better guy to go to than Dad when things are good, or bad, or just need some discussion. And you brought tears to my eyes with your description of her– she’s got it, go girl, time to find your place in the world and your Dad will always be there for you– no matter what. What a loving tribute to your daughter.
    Best wishes to your graduate and Halifax will be a great place for her to study and spread her wings a little bit. Let us know if you ever have a free moment when you visit her, I’ll buy you a drink somewhere.

  17. susan macIsaac says:

    What a lovely tribute to your daughter Warren, it brought tears to my eyes. Your daughter and mine have had some real challenges and it is to their credit that they have overcome them.

    As one parent to another, there isn’t a better feeling than watching our kids soar when they leave the nest for the first time.

    May your daughter make a difference in this world in whatever she decides to do. She certainly has a wonderful role model.

  18. Pipes says:

    Ya man, I watched her grow up abit too!
    This is tough time for dad’s.

    I remember dropping my daughter off at university and started crying like
    a baby.

    Congratulations
    Em!

  19. Mark says:

    Congratulations to you and your daughter. I assume you’ve been to Carcross, if not you must visit – aside from the family connections it’s a stunningly beautiful spot.

  20. John Wright says:

    Warren…in a mere flash of the eye they are there, gone, but forever close. Well done to you and her. You have both earned the future.

  21. George says:

    Sounds like you are both very lucky to have each other – a daughter to be proud of, and an obviously loving father. Very cool.

  22. Elisabeth Lindsay says:

    Oh my gosh. So happy you two found each other. If only all such things could turn out so wonderfully. Got me snuffling for sure!

    Also, how could you have possibly not loved that face to teeny-tiny bits.

  23. Jeff says:

    There’s no great responsibility and no greater joy than parenthood. Congratulations to you both.

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