Today’s interview had the potential of being one where Liz could add to Professor McKown’s messages of awe. She was going to explore another parent topic. This time it would be one involving divorce.
LJ: I wonder if you could share with me a story of the impact of divorce on students.
KMcK: I’ve had a number of these cases. I just wish that parents would realize the challenges that college students go through when their parents get divorced.
Logan came to my office at 6:50 am. In my freshman class, I describe tough challenges that students may face. Logan had already encountered two of these prior to starting college. His home burned down, and he lost nearly everything, including his clothes.
Logan’s second challenge was receiving a call from his parents telling him that they were filing for divorce. I’ve guided many students through these issues. I generally talk to them about these things:
- How the divorce is affecting them
- Whether they have younger siblings at home who might be struggling with the divorce
- How this will affect their college financial status
- How to avoid getting sucked into their parents’ drama.
LJ: How was Logan doing?
KMcK: Logan was handling the divorce well, but he had a 14-year-old sister who was not doing well. Obviously, Logan was very concerned about her. She was staying with his father because his mother was an alcoholic. The problem was that his father’s job required him to be out of town four days a week. Logan’s sister was living with friends. What I didn’t mention to Logan was that Child Protective Services was likely to become involved when the parents have their divorce hearing.
LJ: Could you tell me what happened?
KMcK: After a long talk, Logan decided to drop out of college and return home to take care of his sister. He and his sister moved in with a grandmother. Logan got a job. That’s that last time we talked, but we did keep in touch.
LJ: That’s a sad memory, but somehow I think you are going to tell me the rest of the story.
KMcK: Dropping out of college may have changed Logan’s life for the better. He created a plumbing company, and he has been wildly successful. He’s married and has two children. He has made me promise not to retire until he sends his kids to school. His sister has now flourished from what Logan tells me.
LJ: That’s wonderful! What a great memory, but now I’m going to tell you the rest of the story.
KMcK: What do you mean?
LJ: I’m Logan’s sister.
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“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”– Jean de La Fontaine (poet)