Bags are packed and emotions anticipate for the college years ahead. But has anyone ever looked into the emotions and the feelings of younger siblings?

Some siblings find themselves on a new level of understanding with each other. They begin relying on each other in ways they hadn?t before.

Often the siblings who leave for college did a lot of the driving. Now the siblings left behind do not have the same type of transportation or opportunities. Many parents are not willing to go out of their way to take a child to another activity.

“It was much harder to get rides everywhere,” Daniele Wilborn, ’08, said, after her sisters graduated. “I had to rely on my brother (Tim Wilborn, ’06) a lot more.”

Some kids do not like the constant attention they are faced with when their siblings leave for college. They miss the freedom they use to have when other distractions occupied more of their parent’s time. Other siblings relish in the newfound attention and enjoy the change

“It felt like my parents were watching me more,” Melissa O’Leary, ’10, said. “Now that they didn?t have my other brother, Keith, to worry about anymore.”

Some younger siblings do not have such fond memories about their sisters and brothers that have or will graduate this year.

“I want my sister to graduate so she can get a education and move out,” Gerald Bell, ’10, said, “but I fear my parents will watch me more.”

However one sibling not only goes to school with her brother but may face him as a member of this year’s high school staff.

“I guess having C.J. (Haydock) on campus has its advantages,” Kayla Haydock, ’10, said. “If I forget my lunch money, he gives me some. It has been awkward at times though; I see him at home and at school most every day. I see him a lot more now than I can ever remember. C.J. is in his last year of college.”

C.J. Haydock is a first-year faculty member, teaching video production and computer I. He comes to campus after spending two years as a part time boys basketball coach. He is two semesters away from a degree in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University.

“It’s been an absolute honor and blessing to return to a campus that
had such an impact on my life… . I truly have the sweetest job not
only on this campus but quite possibly in the entire world. And having Kayla on campus is an incredible bonus.”