So how was graduation?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Just back from our DS’s graduation in Greater Boston. It was a great weekend. DS was flying high, and the campus was chock full of kids with great accomplishments, great feelings and grateful/happy parents, relatives and friends. Of course, some of that admiration was tempered by the reality of having to move kids out of somewhat shambled quarters, the process including having to divest various items, some of which were not so readily divestible. </p>

<p>But that didn’t temper the atmosphere much, and it wasn’t a lot different than when my parents sold their house and had to move - which was not from shambles but required much much greater divestment of things held much much longer.</p>

<p>Anyhow, back to graduation before I become susceptible to the Law of Unintended Consequences, i.e. the points that I wind up making are not those I intend to make, whatever they may be.</p>

<p>Honors awards and receptions took place on Friday and Saturday, with our S and a number of his friends being involved in one or another of these. Having met some of his friends from time to time but not necessarily knowing much about them specifically, it was great to see how well many of them had done at college and to hear of their next moves. Some were focused and definite, some not so definite but still very interesting.</p>

<p>Main commencement ceremonies were Sunday morning, with mini-ceremonies by departments before and afterwards, where actual diplomas were received and students’ names and accomplishments recited.</p>

<p>Got to meet some parents that we had not seen since Freshman year, including the parents of S’s freshman roommate, who is off to graduate school to go for an M.S. in the field he has been aiming for since we met him (and before). Got to meet parents of some of his current close friends, and to have dinner with them, the kids and assorted family members. (Also got to relive one aspect of my college years by eating pizza three nights out of four)</p>

<p>All in all, a wonderful weekend, full of great kids and their families. Truly a fine celebration from what I could tell.</p>

<p>And yours?</p>

2

<p>It sounds like you had a good time! Congratulations to your son :)</p>

<p>I’ve been thinking about the CC class of '08 as most were graduating this month. The four college years went by fast!</p>

<p>We did not attend my daughter’s graduation (neither did she) in NYC.</p>

3

<p>I’ll report in after June 6, but I already know I can say long, hot and humid. Glad yours went well!</p>

4

<p>I don’t want to change the tone of the thread, so I will end it on a high note, but Monday when I took D2 back to school for her summer responsibilities, we found out that several hours after Muhlenberg’s graduation on Sunday, as a mom and dad were taking their just graduated student home, they were in a car wreck. Both the parents were killed and the graduate is in critical condition. If this young woman survives, can you imagine what she will remember about her graduation day?</p>

<p>So, going into D1’s graduation the weekend before, we could not have had more perfect weather, even though all the festivities were in the Dome (Syracuse). As I mentioned on another thread, Bob Woodruff was her commencement speaker, and it still boggles my mind that he is able to function as he does, much less get up and give such an inspiring speech that to some (if they didn’t know his story) would never know of his traumatic brain injury two years ago. </p>

<p>We also had dinner with several of D’s friends and their parents. Also did some ‘celebrating’ with some of these parents and their kids at the local bar - it was kind of funny to see all these kids come in with parents - I’m sure it’s not a familiar sight to see so many middle-agers in this bar!</p>

5

<p>

Whenever I visited my sister at Dartmouth, I would go out to the frats with her at night (even though I didn’t drink much or at all). I remember once when I was up there during Family Weekend, there were so many parents drinking and playing beer pong in these dirty frat houses with their kids! I have this one memory of a girl playing beer pong against her two parents; the dad was a pro–obviously experienced and probably an alum, but her mom was absolutely hilarious trying to figure the game out. She’s graduating college in a couple of weeks, and I’m trying to make arrangements to take one of my exams early in order to attend (which hasn’t been working out, so wish me luck!).</p>