IHS: "Sharing"

This week, I started very preliminary talks with my committee about defense dates and things of that nature. I should have started these talks sooner, I know. The process has always seemed like a mystery to me since so many of my program’s graduates opt out of walking in the May commencement ceremony. I have quite the road to travel to get to May 14 and 16th, but I’m determined and things happen when I get that way. Ask the folks at my alma mater. When I discovered that the English department had stopped holding its own departmental graduation ceremony and no one would hand me my diploma, I began the campaign to revive the tradition. Something about the idea of finishing a degree – being the first in my family, mind you – getting a robe, and not having anyone say my name didn’t sit with me. After two months of petitions, meetings, and several persuasive talks with my classmates, we learned that the English department would hold its first graduation ceremony in over 15 years. at Centenary United Methodist Church, Saturday, May 13, 2000. There must have been 20+ members of my family in the audience. It was a very good day.

When I learned that I could march in graduations as a high school teacher, I walked in every ceremony I could. Hell, I would have walked in other school’s ceremonies if they’d let me. The same sense of pride determination that I felt when I graduated the first time multiplied when I became a teacher. Something about putting on my robe again, seeing my students in theirs, seeing the parents with tears in their eyes, hugging my students, and hearing the band makes me well up with… pride. Some people are saps for weddings and things like that. I’m a sap for graduations.

There’s no time for sappiness now. Pages are left to be written and revised, visits conducted, classes taught, and conferences attended.  I just thought I’d indulge myself for a moment.

Thanks for listening.

~I have spoken~