Almost 60 years ago, few attended their graduation ceremony at the engineering college that I went to. And now, many who have grown used to working at home, do not want to go back to working at the office. Will graduation ceremonies be virtual events in the future?
I am seeing a lot of “Now Hiring” signs around town, especially at restaurants. I don’t care what the talking heads on TV say about the economy.
I am using the analogy of a steam locomotive that has been shut down. You can’t turn the key in the ignition and get it moving. But I think someone just lit the fire in the boiler.
Younger people are starting to make up most of those who are getting Covid. They’ve fallen for the myth that only old people get it. They are getting educated the hard way sadly.
Washington Post columnist, George Will, spoke at our graduation. He was thoughtful and humorous and relatively brief and without the dread philosophy of life lecture. He was refreshing after the years of stultifying lectures, pompous ceremonials, and clearly slanted views on history, literature, etc. But I would just as soon have passed on it.
To add insult to injury, the locked in a time warp southern Ivy slapped a rental charge on grads for the cap and gown, but, considering the tuition and costs and the aggravation over the years, I reckoned they could get by without it. 60 years on, they probably still show that I owe that unpaid $3 debt. They never forget.
My mother and father were both pulled from school during the great depression and put to work to assist their families. They were determined that I would get an education. I still remember my parent’s pride when I finished high school (an accomplishment they were denied). My father didn’t see my college graduation, I being the first of my generation to do so. I skipped the ceremony on my Masters, and I didn’t plan to participate in the graduation ceremonies when I finished my PhD. I had landed a good job, and thought it all rather silly. But it was important to my mother, so I took part for her sake. She wept quietly through the entire ceremony. This was a long, long time ago in an America now far, far away. In those days, graduation ceremonies were celebratory events because they were so comparatively rare (especially to persons of color and women), and viewed as seminal achievements; rightly accorded much pomp and circumstance as the young people transitioned from youth to adulthood. So I do feel sorry for the young people who persevered through the pandemic and achieved their goals nonetheless. So to all the Class of 2021, I say “Well Done Indeed!”
It’s unfortunate that the Class of 2021 missed out on so many rituals, but it has been a long painful life lesson that often things don’t go as you’d like… you can lose control, and it can be hard to gain it back (if ever)…
Thinking back upon those rituals, I remember not being excited about them when they came along for me… and skipping quite a few of them. They seemed to make other people happy – and that appeared to be the main reason for having them. Occasionally I run into somebody who was involved with those rituals while I was – and I marvel how their “memories” differ from what I remember them saying about those rituals at the time…
The Love of Money is . . . almost 3 years ago
It’s a job offer if you are against joining a union.
superposition almost 3 years ago
Almost 60 years ago, few attended their graduation ceremony at the engineering college that I went to. And now, many who have grown used to working at home, do not want to go back to working at the office. Will graduation ceremonies be virtual events in the future?
FrankErnesto almost 3 years ago
One nice thing, you can always mute virtual prayers.
dflak almost 3 years ago
I am seeing a lot of “Now Hiring” signs around town, especially at restaurants. I don’t care what the talking heads on TV say about the economy.
I am using the analogy of a steam locomotive that has been shut down. You can’t turn the key in the ignition and get it moving. But I think someone just lit the fire in the boiler.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Younger people are starting to make up most of those who are getting Covid. They’ve fallen for the myth that only old people get it. They are getting educated the hard way sadly.
sandpiper almost 3 years ago
Washington Post columnist, George Will, spoke at our graduation. He was thoughtful and humorous and relatively brief and without the dread philosophy of life lecture. He was refreshing after the years of stultifying lectures, pompous ceremonials, and clearly slanted views on history, literature, etc. But I would just as soon have passed on it.
To add insult to injury, the locked in a time warp southern Ivy slapped a rental charge on grads for the cap and gown, but, considering the tuition and costs and the aggravation over the years, I reckoned they could get by without it. 60 years on, they probably still show that I owe that unpaid $3 debt. They never forget.
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 3 years ago
The past year has been a disaster for education, this year is starting out not much better. Our youth will bear the scars for some time.
Bookworm almost 3 years ago
My mother and father were both pulled from school during the great depression and put to work to assist their families. They were determined that I would get an education. I still remember my parent’s pride when I finished high school (an accomplishment they were denied). My father didn’t see my college graduation, I being the first of my generation to do so. I skipped the ceremony on my Masters, and I didn’t plan to participate in the graduation ceremonies when I finished my PhD. I had landed a good job, and thought it all rather silly. But it was important to my mother, so I took part for her sake. She wept quietly through the entire ceremony. This was a long, long time ago in an America now far, far away. In those days, graduation ceremonies were celebratory events because they were so comparatively rare (especially to persons of color and women), and viewed as seminal achievements; rightly accorded much pomp and circumstance as the young people transitioned from youth to adulthood. So I do feel sorry for the young people who persevered through the pandemic and achieved their goals nonetheless. So to all the Class of 2021, I say “Well Done Indeed!”
ferddo almost 3 years ago
It’s unfortunate that the Class of 2021 missed out on so many rituals, but it has been a long painful life lesson that often things don’t go as you’d like… you can lose control, and it can be hard to gain it back (if ever)…
Thinking back upon those rituals, I remember not being excited about them when they came along for me… and skipping quite a few of them. They seemed to make other people happy – and that appeared to be the main reason for having them. Occasionally I run into somebody who was involved with those rituals while I was – and I marvel how their “memories” differ from what I remember them saying about those rituals at the time…
bakana almost 3 years ago
Does it come with an Amazon Warehouse Employment Application?