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Highlands Today

Graduation California Style

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Gabriel Read

Published: May 31, 2008

I have been to dozens of graduation ceremonies in my line of work, but I have never been to one like California State University at Fullerton, 5,000 graduates in two programs: an "exercise" and a commencement. It took about an hour for the whole group, grads and faculty, to parade into place.
We left Aliso Viedo at 6:30 a.m. to arrive at California State University by 7:30 a.m. to find a seat for the 8 a.m. program. About 3,000 were already there. The "exercise" started after 9 a.m. and was over about 10:30 a.m. for a half hour break.

By the time the commencement started, it was 90 degrees and HOT! About half way through, the first groups receiving their certificates were excused. Our grad, sitting in the first row, discovered about 11:30 a.m. that her group behind her was gone. There was general commotion from then on. We finally escaped the parking lot about 1 p.m.

They had three levels of cum laude: sub, magna and summa (3.7, 3.8a and 3.9 plus GPA) for seven to eight different academic schools or divisions. Our grad had ONLY 3.8. This was the 50th anniversary for California State University and second largest graduation, 10,000 grads and under-grads in ceremonies Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The honors, awards, grants and scholarships were impressive. One graduate student received a $1 million grant in communication research. One alumnus donated $50 million for a high tech center.

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich gave an interesting address, presenting his own personal experiences over a 40-year period to make several points: a. you never know when a specific incident or person will significantly affect your career; b. you never know when a bad experience will become a blessing in disguise; c. you have to know who you are, don't focus on others, don't let others influence your life, determine your own. After all, you have to live with it. He even made a comment about his height. They brought him a one-foot square box for him to stand on to reach the microphone.

Our grad, my grand niece, took 10 years to get her degree. Like millions of others, she had to support herself from age 17 and struggle through the maze of academic requirement changes, plus two changes in her major to complete those requirements. This indeed was an auspicious event among the many I have witnessed.

Gabriel Read
Avon Park

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