I sat in the metal folding chair fairly comfortable with the exception of my feet, which were icy cold from the thin flooring that covered the ice hockey rink. I sighed somewhat contently. I'd finally made it, by the grace of God. I looked around at the large crowd sitting in the stadium seats. I took a few moments to reflect upon the challenges I had to overcome to make it to this point and I sighed again with gratitude that God had kept my mind through it all. My glance toward the crowd was distracted every few seconds by flashing cameras, whistling, and shout-outs by the family members of my fellow graduates. Where is my family, I wondered. I didn't have time to dote on that thought as the doctorate graduate beside me anxiously grabbed my arm and proudly pointed out her two sons, husband, and parents in the stands. I smiled, looking politely up in the stands, waving to them at her insistence.
I felt detached from the formalities that were taken place at the podium including the welcome, introductions, and such. After all, I have attended what seems like countless graduations of my siblings, my own, friends, extended family members, and as a high school faculty member. Again, my mind wandered and I searched the stands for my family member. Undoubtedly my back was to them, I reasoned, since I was the first person in a double-lined procession, being the shortest of the doctorate graduates entering the arena, and ended up sitting in the first seat on the front row.
The graduation speeches were not the typical, dutiful speeches. The two graduate speeches given by a male master's graduate and a female bachelor's graduate were indeed dynamic and invigorating! The master's graduate gave a tear-jerking, heartfelt speech, speaking gratitude for his family and his inspiring mother. It was a pass-the-Kleenex moment. Then a spry, young bachelor graduate riled us up in a pep rally for our futures. Her enthusiasm was contagious and soon we found ourselves smiling and chuckling as her bubbly personality oozed throughout her presentation. Both speeches were memorable and appreciated by the crowd.
The keynote speaker, a full-time motivational speaker gave the crowd a taste of Shakespeare, James Brown, and Martin Luther King, Jr. all wrapped into one. He took us to Sunday morning service, with lines of the speech ringing so true, several people in the stands yelled out an "Amen!" and "That's all right now!" before they knew it. He broke down the terminology upon which his thesis statement was created to its original Latin base, using the eloquent diction of a Shakespearean professor. Then before we knew it, was making us chuckle and yell "I feel good!" in reference to our location, the James Brown Arena, in Augusta, GA. By the time the keynote speaker finished his motivational sermon, the graduates and guests alike had all but forgotten the chill they felt from the air off of the ice hockey rink that was just below the wooden floor covering.
The moment came and one by one the seven doctorate graduates were acknowledged and hooded with their academic colors of their major. Then it was our turn to watch other graduates to receive their due recognition. Instead of becoming disinterested and bored, I became fixated on the faces of the graduates as they strolled across the stage. Some were jubilant, some were nonchalant, but there were some who showed determination, resilience...so much so that I strained as I imagined their story. Some of their stories were visible and audible and I watched them overcome their physical challenges as they walked across the stage or heard their mothers, wives, husbands, and siblings yell out a short, telling blurb (i.e. "You did it, baby...Keep your head up!" or "Nothing can stop you now!" "I'm SO proud of you...that's my baby/wife/husband!"). From both fists being pumped in the air by several of the men to the one young African American woman bursting in an exuberant praise dance on stage at the calling of her name...the stories of resilience and perseverance flowed.
I watched a young lady approach the stage in her bachelor's cap and gown. Her eyes were haggard with exhaustion, but she displayed a look of calm and resolve. As she began her walk across stage, I heard three youngsters suddenly yell out: "Mommy! Mommy! Daddy, there's Mommy!" I saw her slightly turn toward the voices as she walked and saw a look of love and pride as she smiled and waved at them. I felt like I understood the strains and pressures of being a wife and mother, and perhaps even an employee, while she went to school. It's plenty on anyone's plate, but she endured! I knew that at that moment she probably wouldn't change anything for how she felt at that moment.
Another graduate, physically challenged and mobile via an electric wheelchair, took upwards of 3 minutes to be lifted up on the stage by the chair lifter and drive across the stage. As I watched, I noticed that she had no sense of urgency as she focused on each step of the procedure of pronouncing her name to the emcee, driving across the stage, and receiving her degree. She took her challenges in stride and visibly showed in her face that she was focused on the big picture...the end product. Just watching her reminded me of our haste to sometimes just "get things done". Sometimes, it's not about how fast we can get things behind us; it's about just ensuring that it gets done, period.
The graduate that was most imprinted upon my memory was that of a Caucasian male who looked to be in his 50s, walking across the stage to receive his associate's degree. At first, I wondered...what took him so long to do this...but then I saw his face. His face was worn with what seemed like the cares of life. Perhaps he had children who he placed first, working hard to get them through school first. Who knows? But his face definitely revealed a hint of a much deeper story than what he was able to tell in his short labored walk across that stage. As the emcee called his name, I heard a matronly voice call out from the crowd: "You did it, honey! Proud of you!" His face softened into a slight smile.
Moments later I heard a voice say: "And now, Class of 2011, you may move your tassels over..." I stood up and reveled in the excitement of the now graduated class and the crowd in the stands, humbled by what I'd witnessed over the last 35 minutes. One thing that I took away from this experience was that no matter the degree that the graduates had earned, they shared a common theme, upon which the mascot of the University was based...overcoming the odds, persevering until the end, and rising above the challenges. No matter the background, personal flaws, accidents, illnesses, or life mistakes, one should RESPECT THE STORY that each person has to share.
~ LaNora M. James, Ed.D.
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