Commencement

I love how graduation ceremonies are called, “Commencement.”  Commencement, defined as “a new beginning,” is such a lovely way to think of the culmination of several years of hard, academic work, normally thought of at first as the “end point, the goal,” and then reshaped or reconstructed as the “launching point, the beginning” of a new life and a new career.  I like how the word “commencement” reminds me of how graduating from college isn’t the end of all of my efforts, but instead is the foundational base from which I’ll transition.  This is simultaneously a scary and exciting time.  Now, all of my academic efforts will be put to the test.  At first, I wasn’t so sure that I would be ready or fully prepared.  But, as time goes on and as I’ve had my first small glimpses of opportunities in which I can use my skill set, I’m feeling more and more confident and optimistic. 

It has been so wonderful to experience the shift in boundaries from being a student of my professors and field instructors to an equal colleague.  My classmates and I have been trained for this field and now we are on equal footing with those who have trained us.  What will we do now with our knowledge and our skills, with all that we’ve learned?  And, how will we use these skills?  This is indeed an exciting time, a time where our new professional lives are about to commence. 

I’d like to extend a warm “congratulations” to all of those who have graduated this year or who have a loved one that is graduating.