My UMass Boston Graduation

Posted by Teddy at 5/29/2009 4:41 PM
Categories: Boston Issues, Politics, Personal Anecdotes
    “I don’t want to rain on your parade” is an often used idiom. The obvious genesis of the phrase is the fact that rain can ruin an outdoor event like a parade, or wedding, or lets say a graduation. Well it rained on my graduation from UMass Boston today and it did initially suck getting soaked because they where slow in getting the ponchos out to the graduates. However, the rain ended up making the graduation more memorable and created a feeling of togetherness. It is kind of like when you are waiting for a bus or train and it is really really late. Usually people do not talk to people they do not know at the train station, but when a train is late people start complaining to whoever is near by. Usually the complaining conversation turns into an actual conversation to pass the time. So it was at the UMass Graduation. Because Umass is a commuter school usually attended by people working full time jobs it is harder to get to know a lot of people because people are not constantly on campus and usually focused and just getting their work done. The rain today fostered more togetherness among the student body during the graduation as a thing to make jokes about with friends or students who you may have passed walking near McCormick but never said a word to.  
     The rain also did something even more amazing than that. It made John Kerry give an entertaining concise speech. Kerry who can be famously long winded, started off by joking that he was the only thing standing before getting our degree and getting dry. Kerry gave a short speech with  a call to tackle the problems of energy independence and the environment, and many attempts at jokes. Most of the jokes fell flat but even when they did it was still kind of funny because with his stiff posture and literal long face it is almost cute to watch Kerry try to make jokes about Beer Pong and David Ortiz’s slump. 
     The highlight of the ceremony was the moving speech by JFK Award Winner for Academic Excellence and former Marine Dominique Powell. The other highlight was Provost Winston Langley who has a voice that could give James Earl Jones a run for his money. 
     By the time we went into our separate colleges to receive our degrees, the rain had ceased and their was a slight hint of sun and warmth starting to creep over Harbor Point which we all got to experience as Alumni that where a little closer as a group than before the day started. Congratulations to my fellow UMass Boston Graduates from the class of 2009. Now it is on to my Bowling Party tonight and The Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Fall.
2009_0425beforedemos0002 by you.
Getting lined up in the morning at The Clark Gym
2009_0425beforedemos0005 by you.
JFK Award Winner for the class of 09 Dominique Powell on the big screen
2009_0425beforedemos0008 by you.
me and my mom.
 

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