This is my second born, my class of 2020 senior, and 1/4 of my heart (I have 4 sons). This is Carson Dowling. He’s my outgoing son. He’s definitely a leader and makes sure you know he’s in the room! He has loved every minute of high school and bleeds blue and gold for his alma mater of Lyman High School in Longwood, Florida. He has been one of the biggest fans at almost every sporting event and is always proud to let the community know how great HIS school is. Carson has been counting the days until senior prom, senior breakfast, senior picnics, his Greyhound scholar night, and of course graduation day! The disappointment is raw and stings. But only I would really see that. He holds his head high and he is positive. He’s encouraging others, including me, to not be sad about this. He’s working with our county superintendent and other students to figure out a way for graduation and prom to still happen. But even if it all doesn’t (which will probably make me cry more), he will leave those Lyman halls knowing he had the best time of his life and made the best of friends, in both students and teachers and that will last forever, unlike this pandemic that took this very special moment from so many. He’s got a whole life waiting for him, about to start his next step at The University of Florida, which was his ultimate dream come true. He has no regrets and he has grown and learned important lessons about life from this, he will be stronger and dream bigger because of this!