Graduation Weekend
This past weekend was a whirlwind of activities around our middle daughter graduating college. I woke up this morning thinking about the delivery room 22 years ago and that feeling of pure joy. The emotion of having a child grow inside you for 9 months to be taken out to sit on your chest and gaze up to you as they begin their own life is one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It is an emotional surge of love like no other.
I am really connected to our kids. It is an insane privilege to watch them grow and be part of their life journey. I am not so much reflecting on the weekend but all it took to get to that podium where she received the diploma. It ends one chapter in her life.
Another chapter begins and although there is a bit of an outline it is a time of uncertainty. There is more of a straight and narrow path between nursery school and college graduation. Navigating the next chapter is about discovering yourself, what it is you want to spend your time doing to fill your dreams, your desires and your intellect.
We told Emily to savor this moment for a bit before she plunges into the next. Reflection is important and there are only a few times that you get that time to breath. Grab the breathing moments before the next step into the post-graduation life.
Above is the commencement speech given by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Truly worth the watch.
Comments (Archived):
Congrats. It does seem like 22 years go by so quickly.
quickly yet slowly.
Congratulations – as my daughter too is 22 and in college, soon to embark on her journey through life; and as a father, I hope that these young women will enjoy a world full of equal opportunities for all to explore & enjoy.
Congrats Joanne! Seems to speed up post college. Enjoy each and every chapter as they are all special in their own way.
Life moves in both slow motion and overdrive.My son recently got married. This was my toast which speaks to my favorite line about being a parent from Bill Murray in Lost in Translation.Seems universally appropriate somehow.http://awe.sm/iNC96
Congratulations! Emily is an amazing young woman.Yes, their transition post college is an interesting time for the whole family. It seems different for them than it was for us. Most of us moved away from the towns we grew up in and dove into full time jobs with little time for reflection. I like having our grads nearby, but the navigation as parents is tricky. Our parents saw less of us and knew less about our early work experiences.
Our parents definitely knew less about us!
Brilliant! I always enjoy seeing happy faces in graduation photos as there are no such photos of me — unfortunately I’ve always had to graduate in absentia. Congratulations, Emily.
How happy and beautiful is that Emmy Jane girl… Awesome!!!! After Christina was asked by a professor to reflect on her college experience she said “I like the person I am now much better that the one 4 years ago” I love that answer.. I feel like she’s ready to take on the world….