When we learned that graduation was canceled, we all felt the void. We knew our students earned and deserved a celebration. The concern was short-lived because the Brookdale Community College family began planning to make it happen.
Graduation Day was hot, really hot. We didn’t have the speeches, the luncheon, or much of the pomp and circumstance we typically associate with graduation. And I would not have changed one thing.
Beginning at 6:00am, teams of volunteers set up for the event, checked temperatures, provided directions, and handed out memorabilia. Employees lined the street, waving flags and ringing bells to welcome the families. The police sounded their sirens announcing each graduate’s arrival. The cars, decorated with balloons, messages of pride, and filled with multiple family members, (think clown car), paraded up to the dais until 6:30 pm.
As we have come to learn through the pandemic, sometimes there is a silver lining. This year we didn’t just meet the graduates, this year we met the families. Generations of families stood on the white line in front of the dais and snapped pictures and videos as VP Reed read their graduate’s name. A mother and daughter stood next to President Stout as they accepted their degrees in tandem. A father enjoyed a cheering session that included his children. We even had a furry family member sporting a cap, cross the stage. This year we saw and shared the tears of pride as grandparents, mothers, fathers, friends, and family members watched their graduate shake President Stout’s hand (sanitized with each student) and accepted their diploma. As they walked off the dais and climbed back into their cars, they said, “thank you.” Thank you for making it possible to celebrate the accomplishments of their friends and families.
I tell people that Brookdale pulls you in, and yesterday she raised the bar. I have never been prouder to be a small part of our community. Thank you to everyone who worked to make the 2020 graduation ceremony an indelible memory.
foursetsofeyes 