"Thank you for not giving up on me!"
Navid, I know you were just doing your job, but thank you for the role you played in preventing Brandon from becoming a statistic (2nd only to God). We did everything we thought we were supposed to do: Chris and I both have college degrees, we live in a nice neighborhood, knew his friends, involved in his life…, so to say we were completely blindsided would be an understatement. I've wanted to blame peer pressure for his misdeeds, but Brandon has always been our strong willed child, our leader, not easily influenced… Even if he was influenced by his peers, he made the final decision to do the things he did. To his credit, he took responsibility for all of it from the very beginning. I've asked him why many times, and his response is always "I don't know." I've come to accept that, as well as the fact that perhaps he just "went totally stupid on us for a few months." Wow, what a traumatic few months! Chris asked him if he could do anything over what would it be, and his response was nothing because everything that happened got him to where he is now (I was momentarily taken aback by his answer, but perhaps he was on point…). He has definitely become stronger, more mature and more determined than ever. He left for the Naval Academy Prep School on July 22nd. It was a very emotional send off. When he hugged his dad goodbye, he whispered (with tears in his eyes) "thank you for not giving up on me." Again, thanks for all of your hard work, and I hope to never set foot in your office again. P.S. Please tell Luane hello, and thanks for all of her hard work, and for keeping us up to date on everything. She is absolutely wonderful!
- D.J.
