So I “Graduated” College Today
Aside from the obvious, graduation was a little different this time around.
The changes were small, but significant. I didn’t have to sneak the champagne, I didn’t have all of my friends around and the conversations were more sentimental.
The words in the card were sweeter and they hit a little deeper. Instead of pocketing the money for a fake ID, it went into my savings.
I wasn’t leaving my hometown, excited for my next chapter, expecting to return for my month-long break in December. This transition wasn’t about moving onto the next expected step, but into a world of ambiguity. An opportunity to reap the benefits from all my hard work.
An opportunity to celebrate the next chapter.
Congratulations, Class of 2020!
All your hard work has paid off. You have opened so many doors and you’re ready to enter the workforce with the skills, network, and knowledge you’ve obtained over the past 4 years.
I know this isn’t how you’ve always imagined it. Instead of walking across the stage in your cap and gown, celebrating with your friends, family and peers, you’re streaming your graduation on Zoom, waiting for your tassel to arrive in the mail.
The Class of 2020 will forever be recognized for the endurance and anguish it faced during the COVID-19 outbreak. Today we grieve the friendships and memories that were cut short, the job opportunities ceased, and the other losses thatwon’t go unnoticed as society moves into the new normal.
But that’s not really what today is about. It’s about your accomplishments.
So pop the bubbly!
Today we are celebrating the students who have put blood, sweat and lots of tears and sleepless nights into their education. If anything, we’re celebrating the fact that we don’t have to haul our backpacks everywhere we go.
Let your mom take the picture of you in your cap and gown (you know you want to), get your closest friends and family together and celebrate all of your hard work because – hell yeah– you did it!
Congratulations Class of 2020!