<p>Today was our double graduation day, S#1 from College, S#2 from HS. At the end of the HS graduation today, I took a picture of S#2 with one of my all-time favorite chemistry teachers (both boys had her for 2 classes, and both boys loved her and her classes). She is a wonderful person and a great teacher, who has been a real inspiration to both boys. OK, back to the point. S#2 plans to major in Chemistry, so this photo was particularly poignant. After we took the picture, she says to S#2 “All these years, as your teacher, I have been Mrs. XXXXX. As my graduation present, I want us to change from being teacher/student to being friends, and to promise to keep in touch. So you are no longer to address me formally. My name is “<<first name=””>>>“. I am <<<first name=”“>>>. My s. quips back “and I am Mr. <<last name=””>>". It was a riot. A bitersweet, funny moment.</last></first></first></p>
<p>OK this isn’t nearly as sweet but it’s true.</p>
<p>When I was in 8th grade we had a Promotion ceremony, it was held the night before the high school graduated, on the football field, using the same chair set-up and platform. We didn’t wear caps & gowns, but the girls all had nice dresses and many had their hair done, the boys wore ties & jackets. The evening started out beautiful. Then off in the distance, a black cloud appeared. It raced across the sky, positioned itself over the football field, and in the middle of the 8th graders walking across the stage to get their certificates there was a huge BOOM of thunder, a crack of lightning, and the skies opened up and poured. Chaos. People were running everywhere. It took 45 minutes to get everyone moved into the gymnasium and settled into seats and bleachers before they could continue with the rest of the Promotion ceremony.</p>
<p>Our high school graduates in the field house. It’s hot and crowded. Every year people suggest we should move to the football field, but the principal says no. Two years ago it rained all afternoon/evening of graduation. Last year (DS graduation) it looked like gorgeous weather. Sure enough, in the middle of one of the student speeches, there was a boom of thunder and a downpour, but we were inside so they just shut the doors. By the end of the ceremony the weather was beautiful again.</p>
<p>I just thought it was sort of fitting that my 8th grade Promotion had a sudden surprise storm, and so did my son’s graduation.</p>
<p>The assistant principal of my high school is incredibly popular with all of the students (all-girls school). She knows everyone’s name by the first day of school an is incredibly successful. She’s also the STUCO moderator so I was lucky enough to get to know her quite well (first-name basis actually, which is pretty cool, but i still tend to refer to her as her full name). Anyway, we have a very traditional graduation ceremony and it’s a big deal for the seniors to choose a speaker. Many times they have tried to choose her, but she will never do it.</p>
<p>My school was Catholic, and this assistant principal’s tradition is to take all the graduates (only 75) from the front entrance of the school, into the Chapel, and then through the school to the gym where the ceremony is held. While in the Chapel, she gave us an incredibly amazing emotion-laden speech (I’d be surprised if there were a dry eye in the crowd) about how this is where we started, this is where we’re ending, we’re starting to come full circle, she’s watched us grow and is oh so proud, and can’t wait to meet up with us again in the future. She ends with saying that the reason she won’t speak at graduation is because she knows she’d get too sad. </p>
<p>As my all-time favorite teacher, it was moving for me to hear her speak to us like she did. Very memorable, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>As for my funny/clever moment, we we processing out of the gym and many parents were trying to take pictures. My Mom was having trouble with her camera and I very audibly made some little one-liner (it escapes me now) that completely changed the tone of the rest of the procession out because many people were laughing.</p>
<p>And finally, since our ceremony is so long the audience is asked not to clap in between each graduate and instead to stand and applaud at the end of the ceremony. However, when they announced “Chelsea ______. Chelsea will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.” She received a very long standing ovation. Completely deserved and very touching.</p>
<p>My graduation was in June, but I’ll add from my sister’s…</p>
<p>My sister’s class (class of '06) is considered my HS’s worst graduation ceremony EVER. From the start, things were kind of rough…they had coordinated things so that one side of the field would pull out a beach ball and bounce it around, and then when the Staff Assistants took it, one would appear on the other side.</p>
<p>Kids were cartwheeling down the aisle (we have our ceremonies at a very large football stadium because our classes tend to be around 800 kids a piece), bodyslamming each other, etc.</p>
<p>Then, just when all seems peaceful, there is a loud “CRACK.”</p>
<p>Someone set off a firecracker. Yes, that’s right…a firecracker. Singed the astro-turf and (I found this out later) cost the school $3,000 to replace.</p>
<p>Now, as you can imagine, they had to cut the ceremony short. Since then, they have upped the rules and security IMMENSELY, and we didn’t have any problems last year.</p>
<p>They’re already making it VERY clear to us that should anything like this happen, the people responsible will not receive their diplomas and they will not hesitate to cut the ceremony short.</p>
<p>A few years ago, our HS’s valedictorian was a very talented young man that was headed to Princeton. Everyone wondered how he was going to be accomodated as far as the requirement/tradition to give a speech, since he had always struggled with a severe stuttering impairment - perhaps he will play something instead of a speech since he is a fine musician, maybe he will not speak at all… Needless to say, he gave a poignant speech, delivered slowly, but without one stutter to be had, and got a great standing ovation afterward…</p>
<p>CONGRATS to the OP and his sons - I’ll have that deal with my D’s five years from now (hopefully not on the same day!!!)</p>
<p>Neat story, jym. Congrats on the double graduation.</p>
<p>Last year at Rice graduation I went up to the “photo pen” to see if I could congratulate my daughter’s ex-boyfriend, with whom we have a friendly relationship. He spotted me, broke from the line and rushed over to me, threw his arms around my neck and said, " [ My Name], I’M GRADUATING!!" (if was a close call for this bright but disorganized young man) It was really cute and fun amongst all the sharing of summas, magnas etc.</p>
<p>I have two - last year, my middle son graduated. After the parents were all seated at the coliseum across the street from the high school, the heavens broke, and there was a thunderous downpour. The kids had to run from the high school to the coliseum, and naturally, they were soaked. What were dark green caps and gowns, now were black and dripping. They all looked like drowned rats and most of their clothes were ruined because the green dye from the gowns bled onto new dresses and shirts and slacks. Not a pretty picture and abosolutely NO pictures afterwards either because we were all running for our lives after the ceremony. Oh well.</p>
<p>My nephews graduation was stopped after the M’s because some kid handed the principal an unwrapped condom when he shook her hand. Luckily, my nephew was earlier in the ceremony, so we got to see him walk across the stage, but anyone from N on got stiffed (no pun intended). I thought it was terrible that they ruined the experience for all the others because of the actions of one BAD kid.</p>
<p>We had two on one day last June so I missed D1’s college graduation. Fortunately the university web-cast the whole thing (though they didn’t call names for all the bachelor’s degrees - and had 4 podiums where graduates were getting the handshake and diploma cover) Poured rain the entire time. The field was a sea of umbrellas. I think we exchanged about 100 text messages during the speeches.</p>
<p>My high school graduation was held on the football field. They had set up folding chairs for us, and we had practiced marching in, standing in place, and then sitting as one upon a signal. As it happened, there had been a bit of rain just before the ceremony, and when we all sat, we sat in chairs containing about 1/2 cup of cold rainwater. A big UGHHH!!! rolled across the field. It was pretty funny.</p>
<p>Duke had their graduation on Sunday in the heavy rain. It was somewhat ironic that the commencement speaker was talking on and on about global warming while everyone was extremely wet and very cold. She also spoke about how we should not be so greedy and materialistic, yet some savvy vendors were selling lots and lots of “Duke” umbrellas in the background taking advantage of the situation! :)</p>
<p>Despite the weather it didn’t dampen our spirits! One down, one to go!</p>
<p>I can’t think of any grad moments to share but want to congratulate both your boys, jym! Same to your son, sokkermom. My oldest graduates college in 12 days. Maybe I’ll have something to report beyond the usual happy moments.</p>
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One down, one to go!</p>