COVID sucks, because my daughter’s graduation was online today at 6:30.They did their best to give these students a good graduation though. Earlier last month, they did a drive-by graduation parade of sorts where the students drove around the campus while people stood on the sides of the road and cheered and held up signs and honked horns and airhorns at them as they drove. It was really cool…. but it wasn’t gradation.
My daughter was chosen as one of three whole students from the entire class of graduates to represent the graduating class in the online commencement. I’m so proud of her. She did the pledge of allegiance and the invocation, then later, she moved her tassle from one side of the hat to the other as part of the online ceremony on behalf of all the students. I have screen captures from all of those moments..
I’ve imbedded the commencement ceremony here if you want to watch it.
Her profile on Facebook is here if you want to click and congratulate her officially.
My friends on Facebook and in real life were amazing helping her feel this was a big deal even without the special day. She wanted to get her hair and makeup done, get all dressed up, go out with family and friends for dinner after, and have a day that was all about her special accomplishment. But COVID had other plans.
She finished the year transitioning her last classes to online classes instead–and she hates online because it’s not the same as discussing and talking in class and she doesn’t feel it’s as official or as good of an immersion into the topic. I agree with her, but she made the best of it and I was really proud of her.
My friends stepped up and sent cards and some sent gifts and money for graduation which allowed her to buy her dream computer to use for the master’s program she has coming up this very next semester. She was supposed to get a fantstic trip to New York, but the computer was a close second and who knows–a master’s degree might be worth a trip to New York. COVID messed that up too. Forunately, I got the deposit on the AirBNB back and I was only out 30 bucks for the subway/metro card that I bought in advance for one week of using the Metro.
Sigh. So much given up. I wish she could have had her dream, but New York was shut down and was a hot spot. No way she could go and who would want to anyway? A trip isn’t worth death!
Now starts the fun: The Job Hunt!
The rehabilitation program that helped her go to school after she injured her knee and while she is awaiting hip surgery stepped up and offered to pay for her master’s level books! That’s a huge help! But it’s going to cost to go to school and she has to get a full time job to do it–I’m hoping she can get a job on campus. She’s applied for two and was considered for one but because she hadn’t officially graduated, she didn’t get it. Now it’s official and she should get the job for the net one she applies for! I’m sure they’ll adore her at the interview.
College ain’t cheap and there’s no financial aid but loans for master’s and above, and I don’t want her saddled with loans. I might even start a crowd funding page for her college. I haven’t decided yet. Five dollars from everyone we both know on Facebook alone would cover school and she has books covered, so we’d only have to cover expenses. It’s doable, maybe, but crowdsourcing isn’t easy. You gotta know how to work it and I’m just not great at asking for money.
So that’s where I’m thinking and what’s going on tonight. I’ll try to come back tomorrow with something new!
Love and stuff,
Michy
PS: I love and need you all.
