Nicholas Graduated!
Nicholas’ Graduated
5-15-09
Standing in line for coffee on Sunday, the woman in front of me turned around and wished me a happy Mother’s Day. We spoke for a bit about our children and she asked me what I received as a gift. I hesitated for a moment then said that my son Nicholas had just graduated from college. In an instant she understood completely just what an accomplishment that was and truly a gift.
The day before I flew in from Louisiana. I had the graduation pictures printed and carried them with me everywhere. Pathetically I was showing friends and even total strangers the picture of my three sons together standing in front of the Superdome in New Orleans smiling and waving with Nicholas holding the all important diploma folder .
In my life I have learned that it really doesn’t matter what I accomplish at this point, there is a magnification of importance when one of my sons does something special: I am compelled to share the good news. I cannot help myself.
Guess this can be called the “crazed mother syndrome,” me sharing my news that after all of this time and so many setbacks, things really do work out. There really is a hope that difficult goals can be met, and circumstances can be overcome to reach success.
Nicholas chose to go to Loyola University in New Orleans and entered in the fall of 2005. Three days later, the President of the Loyola, Father Kevin Wildes had to evacuate the campus as Katrina reared its ugly head. Students from that school were graciously accepted at other Jesuit colleges for one semester. Nicholas attended St. Joseph’s and roomed with other Loyola freshman who remained his friends throughout his college years. Adversity does breed strength.
This class that graduated last Saturday was called the Katrina class. Remarkably, most of the class returned to Loyola and stuck around four years to graduate. The university community and the administration were grateful to them for seeing them through the most difficult years.
Fortunately the grounds and building had not been damaged in the storm. There was plenty of generosity on the part of the alumni association with chapters all over the United States that pitched in to help the school stay open as well as other groups that offered help to sustain the academics and recruitment of new students.
Loyola remains a very viable learning institution and the graduation took place in the Superdome, the very same place that was a shelter for the citizens of New Orleans after the hurricane. The Superdome has been renovated and was rearranged to accommodate a dignified graduation ceremony. Floor to ceiling curtains created a half space venue with an elaborate stage backdrop that reflected the architecture of the school.
Honorary degrees were bestowed on several incredible people including Herbie Hancock who currently chairs the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz at Loyola. The popular Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, was the keynote speaker and a recipient of an honorary doctorate as well.
It was a full circle moment for the class to graduate at the Superdome in many ways. The students had overcome adversity and returned to school to finish what they had started. Loyola had utilized resources to stay open and maintain high academic standards throughout the ordeal and New Orleans has struggled but rebuild and rise from the ashes.
For the students and parents it was an extremely happy day full of pride and fulfillment and by the way, would you like to see my pictures?
