Graduation

On the national news today they were showing pictures of commencement speakers at various colleges across the U.S., talking with the graduates, and showing pictures of graduates and their friends and families congratulating each other. That brought me back to my graduations and that of my children who have graduated from high school and college. When I graduated from high school it was a three day event. I don't even remember why but I think we had a big senior dinner with parents one night in the high school cafeteria. It was a bit better than it sounds since we had only been in the high school six months and it was catered. The next night was convocation where we had boring speakers and a great choir presentation. The third night was graduation in the gym. The student speakers were heard here and then our names were read and we "walked." I remember my parents and my aunt and uncle where there and my aunt made me laugh on my way to my seat as we all walked into the gym. When my children graduated from high school we tried to make sure the whole family was in attendance also. Kurt even flew in from California for Alex's and maybe even Courtney's but I can't remember. He was still living here in town when Ryan graduated so it was no problem. Beth took her GED in California so there was no graduation to attend. All in all I think it was fun and successful for all.

Then came college. I don't think I really believed I was smart enough to graduate from college and if a dear friend hadn't almost forced me to take my senior seminar test I probably wouldn't have. Anyway, I didn't want to rent a cap and gown and do the procession but at that time you couldn't get your diploma at BYU unless you walked in the procession. That fact alone delayed my graduation by at least a year. Then I actually saw one on campus and it was rather moving so I felt okay with the whole process. Anyway, I rented my cap and gown and drove down to Provo from SLC, where I was working, for my graduation. All my friends had already graduated in the preceding years and were off working and my family didn't feel it was worth a trip to Utah so I went alone. I didn't think it would bother me until we were in the procession and I had no one to wave to or who was cheering my accomplishment. It was much worse after the ceremony. Everyone was being hugged and pictures were taken and I skulked away, got into my car and drove back to SLC. Alone. Therefore, when Ryan was graduating from college I wanted to attend. But he was allowed by the U of U to get his degree without walking through the ceremony. So I wasn't there to support him. So, the point of all this is that the graduations from college of my son and I were not as pictured on television and it still makes me a bit sad. And nostalgic for what might have been.