Hear from Diane and Ken Schwarz, as they share their rewarding experience as a Second Family with their Second Daughters, Hayley and Katie
what made you interested in becoming a Second Family?
As a long time member of WPC, I am aware and so grateful of the decision long ago to expand on the church we have, rather than to seek property elsewhere. I know that one of the reasons was the closeness to W&M. I grew up in a very active and engaging church, yet when I went to college, there were no such programs like UKirk and and on the occasions my roommates and I chose to attend a local church, I did not feel welcomed or encouraged to become more involved. This ended my involvement with church for many years. My daughters had a wonderful youth experience at WPC and because of my negative memories, I wanted to do what I could do to make sure that I supported WPC's efforts to continue this for college students.
What has your experience been like IN a Second Family?
In my first and to date only experience as a Second Family, Ken and I received a twofer as we adopted two young ladies their first year at W&M and continue our relationship today even though they have graduated. The experience is nothing but love, camaraderie, laughter, enrichment and delight! Those are the first words that come to mind to me. We can't even remember what it was like to not have them in our lives now! It started off with dinners and lunches but deepened to opening our house to them and their friends for an occasional sleepover, meeting their parents, meeting their boyfriends, having the couples over for dinner and as parents will, scrutinizing and interrogating the gentlemen with our daughters, sharing our granddaughter with them and in other words, just have two more wonderful daughters. And boy were these young women smart and opinionated. They keep us on our toes with their passions and assure us that we are leaving the world in good hands with young adults like them.
Why should someone consider being a Second Family to a William & Mary student?
Two simple reasons - You get WAY more than you give and it keeps you feeling young and hip!
