BC econ department zoom graduation

[lauradi7dw]

In regular years, the PhD students in Arthur's department who are getting their degrees have the option of attending BC's big to-do, and/or just the department ceremony, or neither. Speeches, robes, the whole shebang. This year, the department decided that something should be done for the students, so a zoom meeting was arranged for the Dean, faculty, PhD students, and anybody they invited, including someone who by her appearance must have been someone's grandmother, and a toddler. I had never been to see Arthur sit there sweating in his robes so that he could shake someone's hand when crossing the stage, but I sat (off-camera) this morning. They went in alphabetical order. I don't think they'd been given any instructions, so the first person (one of Arthur's folks) was making it up on the spot, and took his turn thanking advisors and family members and the department in general. Arthur gave a little summary of his dissertation subject. After that, the precedents had been set. All nine graduates attending did their thank-yous and the advisors talked briefly about what good students they had been, and what useful work they had done. There were a few summary remarks, comments about the people who had finished in December and weren't there (two of them), and they were done. Just over 45 minutes, including resolving connection difficulties and pleasantries. No travel required, and it was much more personal than usual. It was sweet. It reminded me a bit of Flo's 5th grade graduation, which we had mocked a bit in advance (did one really need such a ceremony?), but that one turned out to be very nice. Each child (of 82) had filled out a little survey about themselves, and the principal made a one-sentence remark as they walked forward. A few stand out in my memory, all this time later. One of the kids was planning to be a professional hockey player. Different kid, alphabetically later, was planning to be his agent. At the reception following, Arthur remarked to Flo's teacher "Whatever happens from now on, we'll always have 5th grade graduation." The teacher warmly replied that there would be many more, and he was right, but none of them as good as that one.

Comments

[nosrednayduj]

Jocelyn's 8th grade graduation was similar, though more detailed, as there were only 20 graduates in her private school class, so the teachers got to make a big deal out of each kid individually.

She's sad that her 35-member-class in private high school won't get the same treatment, and will have to make do with zoom, and later individual diploma pickup.