Congrats Graduates!

This evening's commencement ceremony certainly had its spine tingling moments. This was only the second time our campus has had a graduation ceremony. We've been a satellite campus of RCC for 18 years; the State of California is about to grant us college status. So the "mother ship" cut us free a year ago to have our own graduation ceremony. Last year it was held in the outdoor amphitheatre--it was fabulous. This evening the ceremony was held on the brand new soccer field and that had a magic all of its own. A cool breeze was blowing and we had a view of all the surrounding mountains and foothills.

Two long lines of faculty streamed out of the meeting room and strolled up to the athletic field; just inside the field we stood waiting for the graduates. When the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance" came loudly through the speakers and the graduates began parading through, I blinked back tears and tried to focus my camera as the crowd cheered and applauded. Then I watched instructors step out of the line to hug students and that's a goose bump moment. I love graduation.

I do think that last year the amphitheatre, surrounded on three sides by a cheering audience resonated the energy in a spectacular way. I'm probably a little partial to last year's event for two reasons: it was our inaugural commencement and I was selected by my colleagues to be the faculty speaker. If you've got about 4 minutes, you can see that here. Graduation happens only once a year. I am so glad I get to participate. It's a victory moment. A reward for hard work.

Well, it's very late, but this has been a wonderful, victorious evening with every graduate a celebrity in his or her family.

So finally, good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol

P.S. I'm in the photo in the upper lefthand corner -- it's a "back" blip of me. I'm helping a friend adjust her "costume."

P.P.S. It's "Grad Night" at Disneyland. The place is filled with high school graduates. Oh wouldn't that be fun!