Commencement

Today was Commencement day at Xavier. I’ve always liked Xavier’s Commencements. As an employee, we’re asked to volunteer for some of the myriad events that take place on campus, and I’ve always preferred giving my time to the annual graduation ceremony. There’s a buzz to the event, an excitement that overwhelms you and lifts you up right along with it.

It’s hard to describe unless you’re in the middle of it. Watching the event from the stands as most people do, the students are too distant and hidden beneath their caps and gowns to capture the true emotion of the moment. Their smiles don’t glow as brightly. Their joy doesn’t radiate from their eyes. You can’t here their shouts of jubilation and their sighs of relief.

I’ve often thought that if anyone needed motivation or a reason to go to college, all you had to do was take them to a Commencement and let them stand there as the procession of students walked into the arena. Let them experience the emotion and feel the sense of accomplishment. Every student has a different story, but they all share the same goal and that goal is being realized at that very moment. There’s nothing more powerful, nothing more motivational.

In the years I’ve worked Commencement, I’ve had a number of jobs. A couple of times I guarded the exit so students would stay for the remainder of the ceremony and not sneak out once they had their diploma in hand. One year I was at the end of a long hallway, directing people to turn to their left even though they had no other choice. One year I was stationed next to the stage, reminding each person—particularly the women with their long gowns and high heels—to watch their step as they walked down a small flight of stairs.

Today, though, was different. My job today wasn’t to be exit guard or traffic cop or handrail. My job was to be proud husband.

Beth never finished college. A lack of money and a job as an entertainer on a cruise ship lured her away. I always encouraged her to go back, but she always shook off the suggestion. I didn’t push it. Then, one day, out of the blue, she said she wanted to go back. It was her decision, just as it should be, but I was elated. We both knew it was going to be a big commitment and require a lot of work.

At the beginning of each class, the task always seemed too daunting and the work too hard. Nights were spent struggling with homework; weekends were spent in class. But, sure enough, at the end of each semester the call always came: “Guess what? I got an A.”

When she went to buy her Commencement gown, she was told she was graduating with honors. She didn’t know. She called to tell me as she was walking back to her car and you could hear her choking back the tears of joy as she spoke.

Sitting in the arena, watching as they called her name and she walked across the stage, I got a totally different perspective on Commencement. It seems to me that being behind the scenes and seeing the emotion on the faces of the graduating students is great, but it doesn’t compare to watching a loved one achieve such a major goal.

This Commencement, I’ve decided, is my all-time favorite. And of all the Commencements I’ve been a part of, being a proud husband was the best job I ever had. And, if you’ll pardon my boasting, I did my job well.