The Gamble Family (.Net)

Today, I am so proud. Today, my son graduated from college. Today, my son became an engineer.

Chris has been attending Tennessee Technological University for the past four years. His major was Mechanical Engineering. During the past four years, Chris has taken 16-18 hour class loads every semester. This has allowed him to complete the Mechanical Engineering course of study in eight semesters (four years). This is quite an accomplishment. The average engineering student takes fives years to complete the cirriculum.

Today is a bitter-sweet day for me. I am so very proud of my son’s accomplishments. He kept his head straight and stayed heads-down at school for the past four years. He did not fail any classes. He did very, very good and I have made sure that he knows how happy I am for him. Today is also a sad day for me - sad for two reasons. First, I regret that my father could not be here to see Chris get his diploma. We lost my father on October 27, 2000 to cancer. My dad loved Chris and was so proud of him. If you talked to my dad for more than ten minutes, he’d eventually get around to telling you about his grandson. You could just see his face light up as he would tell you about him. I am also sad today, because it means the my role as a father will change significantly. Today, I exchange my role as protector, financial supporter, and teacher, to one that is more of an encourager and advisor.

My hope for Chris as he goes into the world to begin his new life and his new career, is that he will hold true to the values of honesty, integrety, and faith that my wife and I have tried so very hard to teach him. As a loving parent, I hold desperately to the words of Solomon in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I also hope that my son will find a job that he truly enjoys. It seems that this is so rare to do these days. I hope that his first engineering job will be one that teaches him solid engineering principles and practices, along with good work ethics. I also hope that God leads him through a life of joy and peace.

Chris, I am so happy for you today, and I am so proud to call you my son.