--- title: Tampa Prep Blog | Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent description: I was born in Australia. Met my husband, John, in Sinai, Egypt on a deployment with the Multi National Forces and Observers (MFO) in 1997. I moved to the USA in December of 1999 to marry him and went from Army Officer to Army spouse. Our sons--both now at Tampa Prep, Classes of 2019 and 2021--were born on different military bases. Between marriage and now, I have worked as a substitute teacher at all levels, and have taught music, art, preschool and play classes with Gymboree, as well as managed one of their sites. We have been at Tampa Prep since 2012, and of all the decisions I have ever made in my life, Tampa Prep is one of the best. The college acceptances, my children's happiness and their confidence in themselves as people completely validates the money we have spent on their education. As I follow my older son's final months at Tampa Prep, I know that he is more than ready to move on to the next stage of his life, and for this I credit Tampa Prep. --- [![Tampa Preparatory School](https://tampaprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TampaLogo.png)](https://tampaprep.org) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Alumni](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/) - [Alumni Events](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-events/) - [Alumni Resources](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-resources/) - [Career Opportunities](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/career-opportunities/) - [Contact Us](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/contact-us/) - [History & Traditions](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/) - [25 Things to Do Before You Graduate](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/25-things-to-do-before-you-graduate/) - [Timeline](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/timeline/) - [Leadership Team](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/leadership-team/) - [Board of Trustees](https://tampaprep.org/support/board-of-trustees/) - [Meet Our Students](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/meet-our-students-tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Mission & Values](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/mission-values/) - [School Blog](https://blog.tampaprep.org/) - [Admissions](https://tampaprep.org/admissions) - [Begin Your Journey](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/) - [Virtual Tour](https://massinteract.com/tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Private Tours & Open House](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/admissions-events/) - [How to Apply](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/admissions-process/) - [Tuition & Financial Aid](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/tuition-financial-aid/) - [Connect with a Parent Ambassador](https://tampaprepambassadors.peerpal.app/#/) - [Academics](https://tampaprep.org/academics) - [Academics](https://tampaprep.org/academics/) - [Academic Concentrations](https://tampaprep.org/academics/academic-concentrations/) - [Academic Support](https://tampaprep.org/academics/academic-support/) - [College Counseling](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/) - [Planning your Future at Prep](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/planning-your-future-at-prep/) - [Standardized Testing](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/standardized-testing/) - [Financial Aid and Scholarships](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/financial-aid-and-scholarships/) - [Curriculum](https://tampaprep.org/academics/curriculum/) - [Arts: Digital, Performing, Visual](https://tampaprep.org/academics/the-arts/digital-perf-visual-arts/) - [Art Courses](https://tampaprep.org/academics/the-arts/art-courses/) - [Innovative Spaces](https://tampaprep.org/academics/innovative-spaces/) - [Meet Our Faculty & Staff](https://tampaprep.org/academics/meet-our-faculty-staff/) - [STEM & Virtual Reality](https://tampaprep.org/academics/stem-virtual-reality/) - [Student Life](https://tampaprep.org/student-life) - [Student Life](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/) - [Athletics](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/athletics/) - [Facilities](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/athletics/facilities/) - [Clubs & Service](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/clubs-service/) - [Go Beyond](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/go-beyond/) - [Parent Experience](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/parent-experience/) - [Summer](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/summer-camps-in-tampa/) - [Support](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Support](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Annual Fund](https://tampaprep.org/support/annual-fund/) - [Make a Gift](https://tampaprep.org/support/give-gift-form/) - [Day of Giving](https://tampaprep.org/support/dayofgiving/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/) - [Gala](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/gala/) - [Events](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Calendar](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/calendar/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/special-events/) - [Alumni Events](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-events/) - [Parent Portal](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/) ## Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent ![Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hubfs/Garda%20Collison.jpg) I was born in Australia. Met my husband, John, in Sinai, Egypt on a deployment with the Multi National Forces and Observers (MFO) in 1997. I moved to the USA in December of 1999 to marry him and went from Army Officer to Army spouse. Our sons--both now at Tampa Prep, Classes of 2019 and 2021--were born on different military bases. Between marriage and now, I have worked as a substitute teacher at all levels, and have taught music, art, preschool and play classes with Gymboree, as well as managed one of their sites. We have been at Tampa Prep since 2012, and of all the decisions I have ever made in my life, Tampa Prep is one of the best. The college acceptances, my children's happiness and their confidence in themselves as people completely validates the money we have spent on their education. As I follow my older son's final months at Tampa Prep, I know that he is more than ready to move on to the next stage of his life, and for this I credit Tampa Prep. ### Recent Posts [Life Lessons](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/life-lessons) [Being Earnest](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/being-earnest) ## [Parent POV: Ready for the Zombie Apocalypse](https://blog.tampaprep.org/parent-pov-zombie-apocalypse) As I write this, I can't help but feel that our kids would be better prepared for a zombie... [![Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Garda%20Collison.jpg?width=70&height=70&name=Garda%20Collison.jpg)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/garda-collison-tampa-prep-parent) [Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/garda-collison-tampa-prep-parent) May 13, 2021 [Life Lessons](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/life-lessons) ## [11 Bits of Advice from a 12th Grade Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/advice-from-a-12th-grade-parent) I was recently asked if I had any advice for incoming ninth grade parents, and that got me thinking... [![Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Garda%20Collison.jpg?width=70&height=70&name=Garda%20Collison.jpg)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/garda-collison-tampa-prep-parent) [Garda Collison, Tampa Prep Parent](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/garda-collison-tampa-prep-parent) June 27, 2019 [All posts](https://blog.tampaprep.org/all) Search ### Categories - [Life Lessons (24)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/life-lessons) - [Upper School (22)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/upper-school) - [Academics (15)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/academics) - [Being Earnest (12)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/being-earnest) - [Middle School (11)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/middle-school) - [Community Service (8)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/community-service) - [Academic Counseling (6)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/academic-counseling) - [Alumni (5)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/alumni) - [World Languages (5)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/world-languages) - [Athletics (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/athletics) - [Parenting (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/parenting) - [STEM / Virtual Reality (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/stem-virtual-reality) - [History & Traditions (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/history-traditions) - [Summer (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/summer) - [TPPA (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/tppa) [![SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4384978/5b540678-1fdb-4f84-a91c-72cc66f5b06f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4384978/5b540678-1fdb-4f84-a91c-72cc66f5b06f) - - - - - © 2022 Tampa Preparatory School 727 W. 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