The End of an Era: Graduation Day Memories

Looking back on my graduation I can't help but think about how fast that day went. Why wouldn't it? My four years at Syracuse University went by like a blur.

It was not unlike any day towards the end of my college career in some regards. I woke up a little groggy. I had already finished my last finals so I have partied it up the night before. My friends and I knew life would never be the same after we left where we called home for the past four years.

Some of my friends would return to New York. Some would head to Boston. The rest would be scattered across the country. I would be heading back to Bucks County, PA. The bedroom in my parent's basement would officially be mine.

Sure, most of my friends and I would see each other again, but it would be different. We would be starting our careers...our families. Those final care-free days could not be replicated. So we cherished them by staying up way to late and having way too much fun. I digress.

It snowed the day of my graduation. After four years of harsh Syracuse winters, why would it not snow on May 11th, 1997? It must have been nature's way of letting us know that it can be a cruel world out there.

As today's graduates attempt to enter the workplace, many of them will experience that cruelty firsthand. You do your best at school to prepare for a job...only to find out there aren't as many out there as you expected. It took me a while to find my first job so don't be discouraged. Keep your head up and stay positive.

Back to my graduation day. See how easy it is to become distracted? It's easy to do when there are so many moments leading up to that day. So many experiences that can be traced back to that day.

We all had our graduation ceremonies with our particular area of study. The final ceremony, held at the Carrier Dome, was for the entire graduation class, though were were broken up into groups by that same area of study.

I sat with my good friend Andy. The ceremony couldn't have been more boring. It was all pomp and circumstance. The end of the road was here. We were all ready to choose our new road and see what life had in store for us.

After commencement was over I attempted to find my family. I immediately regretted not making a plan prior to the ceremony. I posed for some pictures with some classmates, but returned my cap and gown before I was able to find my parents.

Four years and my mom wasn't able to get her own photo of her new graduate. We got copies of friends' photos, but it wasn't the same. That's life though. You can dwell on it or deal with it. We chose the latter.

Even today when I look back at my graduation day I have nothing but fondness in my heart. Saying goodbye to old friends. Saying hello to my new life. Memories of my recently deceased cousin, who my parents brought to the ceremony. There is plenty of sadness, but it is easy outweighed by the joy.