[Mick]

I've had lots of conversations about this with my Stanford friends. My four years at Stanford were the best four years of my life up to that point, and the University is obviously still a of exceedingly large proportions part of my life today. I would give anything for my children to have that experience, but NOT ONCE have I ever said these words to any of my children: "When you grow up and go to Stanford..." It might be better that my children don't feel those expectations directly, but they have eyes. They see the Stanford football helmet in the office, the Stanford football that runs my life in the fall, and the Stanford t-shirts and sweatshirts that fill my drawers. They also know that all of my best friends in life were dormmates of mine at Stanford.
My oldest daughter is in the eleventh grade and considering colleges, but she won't have the numbers for Stanford, and I doubt she'll apply. I could never be disappointed in her -- she's amazing in so many ways -- but I regret that she won't get to spend four years in such an amazing place.

There are lots of amazing places, perhaps amazing in different ways.  I still think that the last time I was continuously, joyously happy on an ongoing basis, from sunup to sundown and every time in between was my junior year in college.  It was only Santa Clara, but it was pretty special for me.  Not in Stanford's league, but there was a lot that was extraordinary about it for me.

[Mick]

I've had lots of conversations about this with my Stanford friends. My four years at Stanford were the best four years of my life up to that point, and the University is obviously still a of exceedingly large proportions part of my life today. I would give anything for my children to have that experience, but NOT ONCE have I ever said these words to any of my children: "When you grow up and go to Stanford..." It might be better that my children don't feel those expectations directly, but they have eyes. They see the Stanford football helmet in the office, the Stanford football that runs my life in the fall, and the Stanford t-shirts and sweatshirts that fill my drawers. They also know that all of my best friends in life were dormmates of mine at Stanford.
My oldest daughter is in the eleventh grade and considering colleges, but she won't have the numbers for Stanford, and I doubt she'll apply. I could never be disappointed in her -- she's amazing in so many ways -- but I regret that she won't get to spend four years in such an amazing place.

There are lots of amazing places, perhaps amazing in different ways.  I still think that the last time I was continuously, joyously happy on an ongoing basis, from sunup to sundown and every time in between was my junior year in college.  It was only Santa Clara, but it was pretty special for me.  Not in Stanford's league, but there was a lot that was extraordinary about it for me.