After a long, hectic week, I spent my Friday night at graduation ceremonies. I'm always amazed at how cozy the commencement exercise is - the community college where I work surpassed 28,000 students this semester. And I know I write a similar journal entry at this point every year, but I LOVE attending graduation. It's almost like a reward for a year's hard work. I get to wear my academic regalia, (which is supposed to make me look dignified, but Greg says I look ready to play Quidditch). The faculty are fairly punchy after a grueling week of grading, so the processional is pretty mellow. A lot of friends and family show up to cheer on their graduates. One of my favorite moments in the ceremony is when the graduates are asked to stand if they are the first in their family to earn a degree - about 30% stand up. All the students look so happy when they walk on the stage.

But the most amazing part of the ceremony is the recessional. The faculty get up first, and we line the center aisle that all of the students walk down. We shake hands and hug our students and wish them luck. A little arm reached out from behind me and a small voice said, "Daddy, you did it" to a man walking by. People scream, "I love you" to their grads. Remember that I mentioned previously that I have a student who has been working on his degree for almost 30 years? He earned it tonight, and tears were in his eyes when he shook my hand and said it was a pleasure being in my class.

A geologist colleagued summed it up well when he turned to me and said, "Of all of our obligations, this is the best." Yup, the best.