Settling Doctoral Dust
On Sunday, May 18, 2008, I followed the time-honored UVa tradition of walking the Lawn. I thoroughly enjoyed the pomp and circumstance as I reveled in the ritual of UVa’s Final Exercises. Admittedly, I didn’t have high hopes for the commencement speech, but Hunter R. Rawlings III came through with a well-crafted bit of oration befitting the occasion.
I particularly enjoyed the conferment ritual whereby the dean of each school presents the candidates to the university president who then orally confers the degree and challenges the candidates to do good in the world (he actually makes remarks relevant to each field, e.g. to the MBAs and Commerce grads he said, in essence, “be ethical and don’t steal”). There was something powerful in all of that, I think it has to do with the power of words. It’s one thing to receive a piece of paper that says one is now this, that, or the other, but when combined with the power vested in a verbal proclamation by UVa’s President and Board of Visitors, there’s simply more meaning, at least to me ;o)>>>
Without a doubt, pursuing a doctoral degree was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m thankful to all who helped me achieve my goal, especially Dr. Who, a.k.a. Steve Whitaker who went well beyond the call of duty as co-chair of my committee!
I do not intend to pursue any more degrees, nor do I intend to blog about this subject ever again, cuz I’m DONE!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Doc - congratulations. You should be proud of the accomplishment; the credit’s all yours.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
So proud you should be! Those of us who watched you sailing through some requirements with enjoyment and enthusiasm, while sometimes struggling through others, can bear witness to your perseverance, proper sense of prioritizing, and infectious joy of living each day. You have accomplished a worthwhile, wonderful goal all while being a true blessing to those around you.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Wonderful! Congratulations on a job well done. I can only imagine how much work it involved. Now what are you going to do with that great degree, young man? Best of luck for the future.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
TM - It took me a moment before I realized your identity, and with that in mind, let me just say, thanks for everything, I couldn’t have done it without you!
Christina - Thank you for your congratulations! And since I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, the epithet “young man” seems most appropriate, despite my aged appearance ;o)>>>