Less Pomp than Circumstance
Odd that this should be an afterthought, and yet it was. As a result of of a very small paperwork snafu, my graduation was delayed some nine months beyond my defense.
So when it was finally time for me to don the mortarboard and gown last Friday, I was, well, underwhelmed. Certainly some of this phlegmatic response to a major marker in my life/career was facilitated by general sleep deprivation, and some by the time issue. And certainly the liminal, threshold-crossing character of the moment was undermined by the fact that I have been a full-time assistant professor for a full academic year, so the material conditions of grad-student status were already a thing of the past.
So getting hooded was sort of an anti-climax, but at least I've got my diploma in hand, and there's no asterix next to the "Dr." Maybe I'll get a tattoo. Surely that'll feel real.
Comments
a thousand congratulations for having closed the u maryland chapter, ryan! things are less good without you in college park. foggy bottom is lucky.
Posted by: dave | May 24, 2004 8:35 PM
Woo-hoo!
Wait, wait, don't tell me. Did they claim that a certain online form that you had to fill out never registered your submission? 'Cause that's what happened to me.
Posted by: George | May 24, 2004 8:56 PM
Heartiest congratulations, Dr. Ryan! Though it may feel a bit anti-climactic, it's a huge accomplishment and we're incredibly proud of you.
Posted by: natalie | May 24, 2004 10:54 PM
Congrats Ryan. Wish we could've been there to cheer.
Posted by: Jason | May 25, 2004 9:10 AM
i'm imagining that any hooding you might receive would be underwhelming after your rercent fatherhooding. talk about real.
Posted by: fritz | May 25, 2004 1:26 PM
George: yes, it was an internet form that was not filledc out, a form that also could have been submitted in 3x5 duplicate. Fortunately, they didn't make me buy one more additional credit.
And Fritz, yes, the more immediate and tangible concerns of fatherhood, represented at the ceremony by the audible and identifiable squawks from the back of the auditorium (that's my daughter!), certainly changed my perspective on the whole event.
Posted by: Ryan | May 25, 2004 6:04 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: chuck | May 27, 2004 2:41 PM