Just in case you can't tell, that's the graduation song, and I'm singing it because... I graduated! Hooray! No more finals. Life is good. I must admit, I was not very excited to participate in the convocation, and it probably would've been pretty dull had it not been for my wonderful husband, parents, parents in law, and friends. My lifelong friends (or as far as goes back to how long we've known each other, which is far enough) also graduated in my department so we sat together and it felt like East High all over again. The announcers had us laughing as they said in a very NBA-announcer-like voice.... "LEEEEEaaaaaahhhhh Mmmmmmmmm TYYYYYYYYYLerrrrrrrrrrrrr!" It was great. It was like a competition between the two guys going back and forth. The best reaction came when one of them said "LUKE Alexanderrrrrrrrr.....Neviillllllll" Go Utes. He was so tall the lady handing him his diploma didn't fit in the picture because she was too short. My parents gave me a lovely flower lei, and of course my mom made her awesome candy leis. One for each of the three of us. It was good to much on during the convocation before and after they called our names. :) Monica even came to support us and made us another awesome candy lei. It was great!
The speaker at the graduation was David McCullough. He gave a really neat speech. He talked about the Brooklyn Bridge, and what an incredible structure it was. He told about it's history and the struggles it took to build it. He also told about the man who dreamed it up and saw it through. One of my favorite parts was after telling about the bridge he said this:
So what will we build in the years ahead? What will you build, you of the new generation upon whom so many high hopes are riding?
How will history regard you in years to come - you who are part of this over-ripe, shadowed, uncertain time which has understandably given rise to so many grave forebodings about the future?
Will you help navigate the troubled waters? Will you rise above avarice and indifference and self-pity? Will you be a generation of builders, not more mere spectators who leave creativity and performance and responsibility to others?
Will you take what you have learned here as inspiration to still greater learning?
Will you make your lives count?
The easy answer is time will tell. The better answer, I think, is it's up to you.
His speech is posted on the U of U's website. You should read it. I'll make it easy on you. Click here. I wish I could even have a fraction of his knowledge.
Anyways, we got some great pictures that I need to post, but I'm sure we will get more until Friday because...... Danny graduates! Hooray! Another reason to sing the graduation song! So I'll post some more then. We're excited to be done!
