In 2017, our 19 year old child, having flunked out of college, left home without telling us to attend the Toronto Film Festival. We pointed out when they returned that we couldn’t have stopped them from going, so it wasn’t necessary to sneak out and have us worried for most of a day (they did leave a note, but didn’t specify where they’d gone). They went on to start a podcast about film festival with friends, and have had guests who are known in the industry. Fast forward to 2021: months after coming out as a trans woman, she has been approved to cover the Toronto International Film Festival as official press. She also got a stipend to pay for expenses and will attend press screenings free. She still has struggled with college. She starts a nontraditional program at Goddard College in September, and should get credit for writing about the festival. We’re uncertain how this try at college will work; she’s used up most of the money in her college account. Grandparents are willing to pay if she stays on track to graduate.
Wow! That’s pretty amazing! Especially for someone dealing with other struggles, and congrats to the whole family for successfully negotiating some deep waters!