Kortland Andrews was 19 and his girlfriend, 克洛伊, was 18 when their whole world turned upside-down – in the best and most unexpected way.
He was halfway through the spring semester of his sophomore year, ,不可否认, “everything was going great as planned.” Almost simultaneously with the COVID-19 shutdown, the couple learned that 克洛伊 was pregnant.
Before the shock had even worn off, the pair shifted into “what needs to happen” mode, Kortland says. With a lot of planning and incredible family support, Kortland will graduate this Sunday with his Bachelor of Music degree.
The proudest moment of Kortland’s life thus far happened on October 28, 2020, when his and 克洛伊’s daughter Teagan came into the world. 现在两岁了, 缇根充满了勇气, super bright and she loves her friends in the School of Music & 剧院. Even before she was welcomed into the world, SMT welcomed her into their family.
不可估量的支持
“A lot of help came from my parents. They helped out tremendously,” Kortland said, adding that 克洛伊 moved into the Andrews’ family home. This closeness to his folks took some of the stress off the young couple when he had late nights in rehearsal at Heidelberg and 克洛伊 worked late.
But Kortland’s family extended beyond the Andrews family. He also found strong support from the music faculty and his fellow music majors. 随着克洛伊预产期的临近, Kortland, a percussionist in the Marching Band, got the nod from then-Band Director Jon Waters “to drop my drums and run,” if he got a call that she was in labor.
缇根出生后, faculty worked with Kortland to allow him to stay home to help 克洛伊 recover from an emergency C-section. “They were always happy to zoom me in or Facetime me into classes,他说. He was away from campus and in-person classes for two weeks, just adjusting to being a dad.
When Teagan was old enough, she accompanied Kortland to campus on occasion. One of those times was during one of Dr. Carol Dusdieker’s classes when she was giving a listening quiz.
“I had to bring Teagan with me that day and Dr. D. 直接介入, strapped her in(to a baby wrap carrier) and continued administering the quiz,他说. “But honestly, Pat Page helped the most.”
It would appear as if Pat has magical powers with little Teagan, embracing her just as she does with the grown-up Student Princes. “During the times I’d have class and Pat would watch her, I’d come back and Teagan would be asleep in Pat’s office,科特兰说. To this day, Teagan lights up when she sees Pat and sprints down the hallway for a big hug.
家庭的真谛
Through Teagan’s earliest years and the second half of Kortland’s time at Heidelberg, the notion of “family” took on new significance, 这对他来说意味着一切.
“We always talk about family within the School of Music & 剧院. 除了教授, my classmates were always more than happy to see her and watch her for a little while,他说.
Teagan even lent her own sweet voice to a Concert Choir rehearsal one evening. “She just wanted to sing along,” her daddy says. “当博士. Ramsdell figured out what it was, he just melted.”
在她出生的那天, the entire Marching Band sang “Happy Birthday” to her and video-recorded it for Teagan.
And so, the small things become big things. 非凡的事情. 澳门银河网站的事情.
光明的未来
Just this week, Kortland finished his student teaching at Clyde High School. It was a great experience that solidified that teaching and becoming a band director – and “becoming the best possible husband and dad I can be ‘’ – is definitely what he intends to do.
As this dad becomes a grad, there are a few changes in store. He plans to substitute teach for a year while 克洛伊 goes back to school. 这将是一种平衡, 但是要有良好的沟通, time to enjoy each other’s presence as a couple and the love and support of family, 毫无疑问科特兰, 克洛伊 and Teagan will continue to stay grounded and thrive.
Congrats to Kortland and the Class of ’23!