The PhD Chronicles: Graduating...

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

The day began in an unfamiliar bed, in a rented space. We had arrived the night before so that we could avoid the typical chaos of Boston commutes and just give us some breathing space before and after the graduation.

It was an early start like many of the early starts throughout my time at UMASS Boston.  Rising around 5am (though I do this normally) and driving into the city to avoid tedious traffic and white-knuckling my steering wheel (audiobooks only help so much).  I did that trek for 3 years--during the 3-week intensives in June and Fridays for the Fall and Spring semesters.  When I arrived at campus, I often went for a run along the Harbor Walk, a beautiful vista of the harbor and surrounding city and islands.  Some really great sunrises to capture as well.  

This morning, I would also get up and go for a run along that path to take in the morning, exercise the demons, get a hit or two of nostalgia, and sit with a profound sense of closure. For the better part of 20 years, I've been coming to UMASS Boston with my first class at UMass Boston taking place in Fall of 2004.  Now, I was  (likely) visiting the last time as a student.  

The run allowed me to further see how the area has changed over the past two decades including the campus.  I even glimpsed the commencement stage being set up, a preview of the culmination of a decade's work. The six-mile run, a mix of pushing myself and taking my time, felt like a perfect metaphor for the doctoral program itself. Returning, I showered and prepared for the day. 

Arriving on campus, I walked around a little bit.  It had been a few years since I had been on the campus for a prolonged amount of time. More changes awaited me around many corners and also, some familiar spaces.  I made my way to the Clark Athletic Center to prepare for the hooding ceremony. I settled into the designated graduate space, checked in, and grabbed some coffee.

Because it was drilled into me by my parents that if I'm not 5 minutes early, then I'm 15 minutes late, I was there well before I had to be.  And well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  I looked up at one point and sure enough, saw my mom entering the arena where the doctorate graduates were hanging out.  I couldn't help but smile and feel my heart warm.  

She had arrived with her friend and wanted to make sure she got good seats.  I went over to them, greeted them and chatted with them for a bit.  I also smuggled them some coffee and breakfast.  As it got closer to start, they headed over to the hall where the doctoral hooding was taking place and made it first in line, saving seats for Chris, and my brother-, mother-, and father-in-law.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Gus, someone from my cohort who I hadn't realized was also walking.  It was such a delight and affirmation to see Gus and get to not just catch up but to celebrate this work of 10 years for both of us. Spending a significant part of the day with someone who started this journey with me ten years ago was truly appreciated.

We settled in, preparing for the procession. Smiles, laughter, and wonderful conversations flowed as we ran into other people from the program including other graduates as well as faculty before lining up for the hooding ceremony. 

I'm not a fan of ceremonies and of the 6 degrees I've accumulated this is only the second ceremony I've attended (the first was undergrad in 2001).  Yet, I really enjoyed the hooding ceremony.  The speeches were short and sweet, but the opportunity to be hooded by your chair and have a moment on stage--brief though it was, still felt meaningful, especially as I could see my mom, my partner, and other family members in the front row.  

There were several moments during this ceremony when I was on the brink of tears. The pomp and circumstance, coupled with the recognition that this was the final step in the process, made it a big moment after working so long on it.

After the hooding ceremony concluded, many of us from the leadership education program gathered outside, taking photos as a group and with different faculty and our family.  There was about an hour of "free time" before I had to be back for Commencement and so we tried to go to where they were offering snacks and such but it was a bit too packed.  Luckily, Chris packed a peanut butter sandwich.  At this point, folks split up, some to go back to the apartment we were renting and others to get food in the food court.  

I took a little time by myself to just reflect a bit and relax; to recognize that I was half through the day. I had one more thing to get through (Commencement) and it was starting to get warmer and the overcast was disappearing.  I worried that it was going to get a little warmer than I would prefer.  But I put that thought aside and just sat with the feelings of the moment: I was done; I had my diploma; I did it.  

That made me smile and carried me far enough to go back to the meeting spot for graduates for commencement. Much like earlier for the doctoral hooding, I got there early and was largely standing around.  Gus and others showed up, so we chatted and entertained ourselves until we were instructed to get in line.  We walked across the campus, I imagine intentionally as a symbolic passage of our time here, and were lined up for the actual entry into Commencement.  

Once again, my mom had some of the best seats in the house and I could easily see her as we walked the aisle.  We were seated across the front and the ceremony began. After a series of speakers, we did another walk across the stage—my final walk.

Because they were trying to get some 800 people across the stage in an orderly fashion, it was all a bit rushed and felt less significant than the hooding.  Still, I'm glad I did it as it felt like the finale to a long long process that started with acceptance.

Once the ceremony was over, I found my family and we walked back to my car and headed over to the apartment.  There, Chris had set up decorations and had ordered food to celebrate the day.  She even had a beautiful toast.  There was no better way to end the day.

The day was filled with many emotions; many of which are still hovering a week later. I felt supported by my family and Chris's family for showing up. I felt part of the community of UMass Boston.  I felt the fullness of completion and recognition of the work that I had done to get there.  I was also flooded with the sense of it being finally done and crossing a major milestone in my life.  

I look forward to a few more posts in this series about additional things from along the way that have been relevant or useful in this journey.  I'm also glad that this post can finally be put out into the world!

---

Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down below or feel free to browse around and check out some of my other posts!. You might also want to keep up to date with my blog by signing up for them via email.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.