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Wes: It’s been two years since we graduated a senior from the Double Take column, so this year we graduate two. Co-author Julia Davidson was a junior in 2007-2008. She’ll be leaving shortly for Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. This year’s author, Kelly Kelin, is headed a little closer to home. She’ll be down the street wearing the crimson and blue, and waving the wheat. Each take with them a great deal of professional experience and $1,100 in scholarships from the Family Therapy Institute and Central National Bank for their year of writing the column.

Readers share this fond farewell, with many families of high school seniors. In the coming days throughout our community and across the country, parents will be packing up their children and sending them out into the world. Many will leave for college or trade school, others for the work force. All will go with a mixture of excitement, loss and trepidation. This year’s transition is made more poignant by the consistent uncertainty we feel as our country undergoes many transitions of its own — some wondrous, many worrisome. It’s hard enough to launch our children into the calm seas of economic prosperity. It is quite excruciating to do so during an economic downturn. A core element of the American Dream — at least since the end of World War II — has been the idea that the next generation would better us economically, sociologically and psychologically. In such times a parent could be forgiven for clinging to their child, worrying about where tomorrow might lead and whether that child will find the dream more of nightmare.

The cause for hope lies no further than our history books — those dry tomes that kids leave behind in high school and find again in college. These times may try our souls, but they are far kinder to our children than any in history. And despite each adverse turn before, the next generation has always found a way. Our wars are small in comparison; our economic deprivation is mild. Our safety has never been greater. Of course, we hope for perfect peace and prosperity and to live in a healthy environment, but for today we would do well to send our kids out with sincere hope for personal growth and enlightenment, an intense desire to work hard for what they want, and a goal of advancing our best values and ideals. To do without and to make do is a greatly underrated talent that was becoming all too scarce.

All kids leave home with overdeveloped yearnings for freedom and underdeveloped skills of independence. Soon they learn that freedom was the easy part, and as they increasingly struggle toward self-sufficiency, they grow in character and self-assurance. So as we say goodbye to our children, let’s welcome our adults into the world and give them the best gift of all — the belief that they will find ways to unscrew what we’ve screwed up, just as we did for our parents over our lifetimes. History tells us that we were more successful than we may think — and that our children will better us yet again. I remember an old professor of mine who ended each semester with this benediction, “I don’t know where you’ll be someday, but I know you’ll be there.” It makes more sense the more you think about it.

Good luck, Kelly, Julia and all the other seniors! We’re counting on you.

Kelly: So this is it: My final curtain call to such a short-but-sweet era of my life, leaving me with only nostalgic feelings. This opportunity has been truly remarkable. Through this column, I’ve not only learned a lot about human behavior and today’s culture but I have unexpectedly learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned the importance of compassion, consideration and aptitude. In fact, I would have never have expected it to end me up where I am today.

Through this opportunity, I have been given a push into what I feel is the right direction for my life to go. I’m not exactly sure what my future has in store, but I know that when I look back, this will be one of the important milestones I will have passed and one I will truly never forget.

When I first signed on for this job, I was skeptical of my ability to give advice to teens and parents. With my 17 years of living, I wondered how I would be able to successfully put myself out there for the public to see. I thought no one except my parents would even take a glance at my insight. I was proven wrong. I was shocked to see how much praise from my peers, parents, my teachers and even complete strangers who would recognize me around town. That means a lot to me, knowing that in some small way, I have left my footprint in Lawrence.

I’m saddened to see this opportunity go, but I know with determination and a positive attitude I’m sure to have plenty more like this coming my way. With that being said, I would like to thank the Lawrence Journal-World, Dr. Wes, my peers and other readers, who have been there with me every step of the way. My advice for next year’s columnist: You have some small shoes to fill. Literally — I’m a size 7. For now, I will sign off with see you guys later.

Next week: We take our annual break and then return on Aug. 17 with new writer Samantha Schwartz’s first column.

— Dr. Wes Crenshaw is a board-certified family psychologist and director of the Family Therapy Institute Midwest. Kelly Kelin is a graduate of at Free State High School. Opinions and advice given here are not meant as a substitute for psychological evaluation or therapy services. Send your questions about adolescent issues (limited to 200 words) to doubletake@ljworld.com. All correspondence is strictly confidential.