Havana Ruby Modesta is a High School Senior. My baby girl is now on the quick path to being a high school graduate and starting her life as a college student. All of this will happen in less than a year. My sweet girl is going to be leaving the nest. And like countless humans before us, her father and I will be empty nestors. And like those countless other families, we will survive. We will move into the next phase of our lives. Even though the change feels so significant and individual to us.
Havana's ascent to adulthood is symbolic is so many ways. For her and our family as a whole. I won't digress into some of the glimpses I see for us all. Instead I want to share how Havana has been showing up in her life as a high school senior.
Havana is a smart young lady. She is funny and creative. Havana has a sweet and loyal friend group. They are unique and supportive of each other. School is equally about social development as it is academic learning and in that regard Havana has knocked it out of the park. She is driving now but prior to that, she would use BART to meet up with her crew for outings in Berkeley, Walnut Creek and even San Francisco. Concerts, thrifting, boba tea or studying at the library, have been some of Havana ventures out of the house. She then finds that the sanctuary of her bedroom back at home provides the safe space to rebuild her bandwidth and recharge.
Driving has been a game changer. Being able to drive herself to school has lifted an enormous burden for two working parents with tight schedules. While I am beyond relieved about her being able to shuttle herself back and forth to school or the library, I do miss the early years at MFS, when I would pick up both girls and hear all about the days. Teenage years has shifted how much they share, so that lessens the changes in routine but I will always cherish the years of pickups. And now, I get to tell Havana to drive herself!
Havana is involved with the art magazine at school, serving as editor. She is also engaged with some clubs. She has served as the basketball coach, opting for that instead of playing herself. While Havana does have skill on the court, managing is a better fit for her.
The school Havana attends is challenging. The work is rigorous but the subjects are necessary and provocative. She learned about genocide and East Africa last year, all which were timely, as she was able to join me on her second trip to the continent this year. We spent time Rwanda, her first time there, and then returned to Uganda where she got to see first hand the things she read about and discussed in the classroom. Havana has been reading thought provoking literature and creating quite exceptional art. While some of the classes push her to her limits, she continues to move. forward, sometimes with grit, other times resistance. Either way, Havana is moving towards the cap and gown.
