Graduation is one of my favorite times of year. The balloons, gowns, caps, smiling families. The slow-creeping grins at commencement as students realize the sleepless nights and stress, the sacrifices they’ve made, have led them to this moment. Graduation is both an end and a beginning, a point outside time where, as the commencement speaker talks of responsibility, integrity and honor, students and parents can bask in the warmth of a job well done.
Friday, I had the honor of attending East Central Community College’s 2019 commencement ceremony at the Neshoba Coliseum. There, around 300 students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, or at least a diploma holder. I’m not sure how ECCC does it, but my school didn’t give out diplomas at commencement. They were mailed a few weeks later.
The scene at the coliseum was pretty much what you’d expect. Chaos. I don’t think anyone really knows what they’re supposed to be doing at a commencement ceremony. The school administration, having been to dozens of commencements, probably has a better idea than I do, but I the average person, myself included, is pretty lost.
Despite the understandable confusion, most are sporting huge smiles, some a crying tears of joy and the atmosphere is one of celebration, pride and love.
As a student’s grandmother told me Friday, “I don’t know whether I’m supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance, salute or pray, but if there’s any anti-flag people here, I’ll drop them.”
No one was going to ruin her chance to see her grandson walk across that stage. Aren’t grandmothers awesome? If there are any graduating students reading this who haven’t invited their grandma to commencement, stop reading and call them immediately.
Grandmothers, however, are not the only people who are invested in students’ graduation. As East Central President Billy Stewart pointed out, parents have also sacrificed, sometimes as much, if not more than the student. I was glad to see him take time to honor them during the ceremony.
As I said, graduation is one of my favorite times, but that’s not because of commencement or chaos or any other words that start with the letter “C”. I love graduation because of the grandmothers and parents, the aunts, uncles and teachers. No graduate walks across that stage alone. With them travels the pride of their fathers, the love of their families, the hopes and dreams of the generations that raised them, supported them and taught them.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019, and congratulations to all our parents, grandparents, pastors, educators and friends. You all deserve it!
Thomas is the managing editor of the Newton County Appeal. He can be reached at thoward@newtoncountyappeal.com
