Enough With the “Celebrity” Commencement Speakers Already
At best, it’s a short speech. At worst, the rest of the world hears about it.
The journey was finally done.
After two years of community college and three years at my dream school, I graduated.
All that was left was to walk across the stage, receive a blank piece of rolled-up paper tied with a ribbon, and exit stage left.
The real degree would arrive in the mail weeks later. Once the check to graduate cleared, of course (because why wouldn’t there be a “graduation fee”?).
Sitting in my folding metal chair, I agonizingly listened to the school president, then a smattering of trustees. The restaurant I went to for lunch lost my table’s order, so my empty stomach wanted a quick ceremony. Knowing full well it would be the last time it held many of us in an educational setting, the college milked it for all it could. Finally, Glenn Close took the podium to offer her commencement address.
I don’t remember much of what she said. Actually, I don’t remember a word of what she said. I was too busy fiddling with the ridiculously oversized black moo moo — official graduation attire — and mortarboard tassel. What side of the cardboard top was it supposed to be on again?
