Graduation Day

Ethan in the Procession
Maryland Live
Hanover, MD
June 6, 2023

 The day began early and lasted until late. 

It was a day of pomp and circumstance. Hundreds of newly minted graduates marching together for the last time as they completed the Maryland mandated curriculum and accepted their diplomas. 

I think I enjoyed the ceremony mostly because it went quickly and smoothly in a fantastic facility. I had not been in the massively large room at Maryland Live and was very impressed with the size of the room and the video support that the ceremony received. 

But wait, the day was all about the graduates, their families, and their friends. As it should be.

It was fun.

Me, Ethan, Chris
Odenton, MD
June 6, 2023

It was fun to watch my oldest grandchild walk across the stage and transform, in that moment, from student to graduate. Now I believe that we never should stop being students--there is always more to learn, but celebration of completing of 13 years of COVID interrupted learning was a momentous occasion.

A moment to celebrate and remember.

The ceremony provided many meaningful moments, but I found two statements especially meaningful.

First was a from East of Eden, by John Steinbeck:

And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for this is one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system. Surely I can understand this, and I hate it and I will fight against it to preserve the one thing that separates us from the uncreative beasts. If the glory can be killed, we are lost.

John Steinbeck, East of Eden

And the second was the charge given to the graduates from their principal:

"Go do something you are proud of." 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD