Hats Off! Musings of being a Pirate
June, 2001
By Wyatt Newman
We Will Always Remember
Graduation Day?
The grand culmination of it all, Graduation Day to bring to a close
four years of Rogersdom. So why did it seem so anticlimactic? Of all
the memories of high school, especially of the senior year, why does
the grand finale not register in the memory bank? While it is quite
common for most graduates from all educational institutions to have no
recall of "inspiring" graduation addresses, why does the
whole ceremony itself seem, well, blurry?
Surely we marched into the Spokane Coliseum in proper order that sunny
June afternoon. Still maintaining discipline under the watchful, but
unseen eyes of the faculty, we sat where we were assigned,
alphabetically, instead of with those of our choosing. Lucky for us if
we had the two combined. Being a traditional school, Pomp and
Circumstance was played by the underclassmen of the Rogers Band,
joined interestingly enough by band members of our own class, complete
with graduation robes to help them stand out. Undoubtedly, some
probably considered this an outrage.
Every graduation ceremony has the stage filled with dignitaries.
Somewhere up there must have been the principal, Mr. Purdy, in one of
his not-too-common appearances*. Mr. Purdy was usually observable
going into or out of the main office, hastily on some undoubtedly
important mission. No doubt a member of School Board was there. Of
course, our elected leader, the always dignified Ray Miller, our class
president, spoke and assisted in the handing out of the diplomas.
We all had that moment, surely, when we paraded across the stage,
right hand extended to grip the diploma giver's, while the left hand
grasped the purple, diploma-less cover, the actual diploma to be
mailed later after being properly certified that we had truly
graduated. Parents sitting above must have beamed as they were
undoubtedly the sincerely proud ones present.
Most of our family photo albums undoubtedly have photographs that
record the event, considered by some to be one of the milestones of
life. Some may even still have one or more of the graduation gifts.
But is the suitcase still being used or is the watch still ticking?
After the formal ceremonies came the usual goodbyes and "we'll
keep in touch and get together this summer," pledges. Robed
graduates milling around the Coliseum floor wondering what next? That
somewhat empty feeling of "Is that it?"
Not fully realized at the time but probably reflected in the sadness
that almost overshadows the joy of graduation, was the realization
that what was really happening was the goodbyes. The mass migration of
being blown into the winds of adulthood was taking place. Only the
magnet of class reunions would bring many of us back together, albeit
briefly.
The scenes and feelings are repeated with the attendance of the
graduations of children and grandchildren. Maybe it's one of our
cultural events that doesn't change that much that ties the
generations together. How else would we always remember Graduation
Day?
- Wyatt
(* Webmaster note: At
intervals, rows of seated graduates were led backstage at the
Coliseum. Each graduate walked onstage, alone, when called. Mr. Purdy
worked at least one part of the alphabet. For many, it was the
first and last time he addressed them individually.)
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