Chapter 28
After the holidays things progressed quickly for the Rossi family. Not only did Spencer receive admission to all the major post-secondary institutions in the United States but he also received a full scholarship and an offer to do an accelerated program from Cal-Tech. Dave had felt his eardrums might just burst when his son received that package as Spencer had squealed and shouted with joy and excitement.
Their plans came together to go down to visit Cal-Tech and figure out living arrangements, among other things, over March Break. The only issue was when Spencer should start. Cal-Tech had left the option open to them of whether Spencer wanted to start in the spring/summer session or the fall. Spencer was all for starting immediately, always eager to learn more and expand his knowledge. Dave, however, thought that it was best that Spencer started in September arguing that he would have plenty of time to accumulate knowledge and that it was better to start with his class-mates. The campus visit brought resolution to the disagreement when it was explained that Spencer could work on his first doctorate while he rushed through his undergraduate degree. Dave was persuaded by Spencer that he could finish the undergraduate degree quicker if he was allowed to start in the summer and that he would be surpassing his classmates so quickly that it didn't matter who he started with because he definitely would not be finishing with them.
The campus visit also prompted a long discussion on which field of study Spencer was intending to pursue first. They both knew that he would more than likely stay for two or three doctoral programs given his age so the real question was what Spencer should pursue first.
"I'm interested in theoretical mathematics and chemistry," Spencer explained to his dad as they sat outside in a courtyard, "But engineering is also really interesting as is psychology, especially if I want to follow in your foot-steps."
"Spencer, you need to pursue your interests not follow my career path."
"But I am interested in your career path. What's the use of all my knowledge if I cannot apply it? I know everything there is to know about schizophrenia but I still can't help my mom."
"Spence" Dave sighed as he pulled his son into a hug, "Why don't you start with math and chemistry and then move into psychology when you're a little bit older?" he suggested,
"That makes sense" Spencer concluded.
Things also progressed rather quickly with Dave's second book. He had zoomed through writing it, utilizing cases and work that hadn't fit into his first as well as new research he had compiled during Spencer's first Semester at Warton. He was extremely proud of the effort. He'd been more in shock than awe that he'd completed his first book and that it had actually done well but with his second he'd really had the chance to exercise his writing chops and he thought that it was truly a piece of art.
Now that Spencer was settled into his school and more comfortable with him being away, Dave felt more comfortable leaving on a slightly longer publicity tour. Though he still hated leaving Spencer and knew it would be hard on him as well when his son no longer needed his presence at University but he knew that was a least four, if not six, years down the road.
He did enjoy the publicity tours though. There was definite public interest in what he was writing about and he enjoyed sharing his knowledge. That and the BAU definitely deserved recognition for the work they had done, and the team was still doing. Hotch and Gideon had both been nice enough to keep him in the loop when cases came up that he would find interesting.
Graduation soon came upon them. Dave didn't know what to think. His son, as he truly did view Spencer as such, seemed too young to be graduating high school—he should be just entering it—and Dave knew that he would no longer be the prevailing parental influence in his son's life and that was almost too much for his mind.
Spencer was practically jumping for joy. He had though, back in Las Vegas that he would be trapped into the regular school system but now he was getting to go off to Cal-Tech. He knew he was the youngest of his graduating class but that didn't bother him; what did was that he felt he was leaving friends behind. Almost all of his classmates were not graduating with him. He knew he could keep in contact via e-mail but he also logically realized that things would be different.