As has been noted throughout our community, many have just experienced the mayhem we call commencement.
I like the term commencement because it signals the beginning of something, and avoids connotations that something is ending. As one who likes to find significance in things, it occurs to me that not much is really ending. The friendships that were formed will continue, and the learning process never ends. The daily grind of classes, lectures, assignments -- those are ending for the graduates, but only because they have acquired the discipline to learn without those trappings.
What should a professor glean from commencement? Although I've been lucky to work with great students since my arrival here, the group that graduated this past week included my closest student colleagues.
We have learned together in class, worked on papers together, experienced acceptance and rejection of our work. These students have been friends to me as well, and they have taught me much about perseverance, reliability, and the importance of having fun.
So, commence already, get on with it, but please stay in touch; I promise not to nag you about using sunscreen.
Like I said, that's why everyone should do their BS-MS: two free commencements, which include free food.
That's why I'm here at least, I don’t know about anyone else.
(It better be the best $160,000 meal I’ve ever had)
Posted by: Ed at May 19, 2003 5:21 PM
If you stay for a 2-year MS, you can finagle a total of 8 free food events (undergraduate reception and graduation reception, then undergrad graduation and graduate reception, then those 3 again the year you actually graduate with your MS). I think that's a good sales pitch for students pondering a Master's Degree.
Posted by: Chris Hill Festival at May 20, 2003 11:47 AM
Hey what about 1997??? Come now!!
Posted by: maj2 at May 25, 2003 3:41 PM