Graduation

I've just finished a full weekend of graduation activities. We start on Friday evening with the doctoral hooding ceremony. Those receiving PhDs receive their academic hoods from their advisors. I didn't have any student finishing this year, but attended as associate dean. It is an exciting evening for students who have worked long to finish their degrees. There is an obligatory explanation of the origins of the gown and hood, complete with the reason for the small pouch at the end of the hood (to hold a favorite beverage). The hooding ceremony is followed by a reception with good food and a full bar!

Saturday morning starts with the Arts and Sciences undergraduate convocation. This is held in the Dome and every student has their name read while they walk across the stage and have a handshake with the Dean. It takes a long time to read hundreds of names...I admire the readers who have to handle difficult pronunciations on the fly. Students fill out a card with their name and a phonetic guide. Some with names like "Russell Jones" provide detailed guides, while others with names like "Shanaquina Abaramdamblartokov" provide little direction. The readers have about 1 second to make a decision and then have to plow forward best they can.

This is followed by a reception for family back in the academic buildings. These are crowded noisy affairs when, as faculty, we try to remember the names of students who introduce us to their parents. Many faces look familiar, but names often are long gone. Still, there is usually a student who I really remember and whose family I want to meet. As a parent I've become increasingly aware of the importance of recognizing parents and telling them, personally, how much I enjoyed their child.

Saturday afternoon is our convocation for Masters students. I don't usually attend this event, but this year, as associate dean I was the master of ceremonies. A somewhat more difficult job given that I've never attended myself! These students are older, often from other countries. The biggest event is picture taking. They want their picture taken with everyone and everywhere. If you have a robe on, you get a picture. It is a fun and spirited group.

Finally, Sunday morning is the grand commencment in the Dome. It takes over an hour to seat all of the students. This year I was a marshall, which meant I was responsible for keeping the lines moving, walking young ladies to the bathrooms, and maintaining decorum. The decorum part is hard as the beachballs and balloons start to emerge. I know students are excited, but interupting their own student speaker seemed a little crass.

I didn't attend my college or graduate school graduations. It seemed a little anti-climatic. In both cases I finished in the summer and would have had to come back in May for the ceremonies. By then I was working and far away from college both physically and emotionally. I look back and don't feel that I missed much. Even though I am big on ceremony and ritual, I don't feel slighted. I wonder about the kids who were in the Dome today, what will they remember of this event, what message will they take away with them?