A Graduation Dilemma

This past weekend my wife and I went to California to celebrate my daughter’s graduation from college. Molly’s our oldest and hence the first to graduate. Now, I have been part of college and university graduations for over thirty years, but it’s different when it’s your own.

After having spent the weekend with family and Molly’s friends at various graduation events, parties, and the like, I felt it certainly was a great time of celebration with much cause to be proud. I was surprised, however, by how stressful the weekend was not just for us but for most people with whom we came in contact.

So many folks seemed troubled and upset. Upset that they couldn’t find good seating at the ceremony, commencement was way too long, people kept walking in front of them and spoiled their view or their picture, worried about the party or the dinner they planned, and on and on. I think we were all so caught up in wanting the events of the weekend to be perfect, that when they weren’t, we were frustrated.

I would contrast this experience with the Avila graduation experience which was dramatically different. It was described as a positive day full of hope and promise. People laughed and shed tears of joy. The speeches were inspiring. There were congratulatory shout-outs as graduates crossed the stage. The temperature was perfect, the seating comfortable, the big jumbo screens made even the furthest seat seem like front row, and more importantly, it was well less than two hours long. People hung around after the ceremony, talking with friends, introducing professors to parents, and taking photos with their families. All and all, in spite of any worries one might have over future jobs, it was a very happy day.

What a difference a little change in context can make. Either way, it only seems fitting to not let any minor worries steal enjoyment of such a great moment of accomplishment. I wish my experience was more like the Avila experience.