To Our December Graduates 

To Our December Graduates 

Only a couple weeks and you will be finishing your degree and going off into the job world or whatever great adventure is up next. You will walk across the stage with friends and family cheering you on from the bleachers. That diploma will be an early Christmas present that hopefully opens doors for years to come.  

Whether you have worked on your degree for three and a half years or six years, this is a big accomplishment. Take time to be proud of yourself! Your perseverance, thirst for knowledge and diligent personality has gotten you to this point. Give yourself a pat on the back and soak in all the congratulations. 

Acknowledge those who helped get you this far. It could be mom and dad who funded this academic journey, or it could be the professor who helped you through particularly hard courses. Maybe it was the roommate who brought you snacks and encouragement when you needed some cheering up. Whoever it was, give them a hug and say “thank you” before you walk across that stage. 

Graduating in December may not be the traditional route, but who said traditional is the best way to go anyway? If college has taught us anything it is that things never go as planned and sometimes that is for the better.  Feel free to cheer on your fellow graduates in the spring but they should be doing the same for you this winter. 

On the topic of being a traditional student and graduating in the winter, senior Emma Schultheis commented, “Graduating in December is definitely different than in the spring because I’m not graduating with all my friends and getting that same experience. On the other hand, I am really excited about my next step in my career and life!”

While graduating in December may be less “traditional” it may be best to just throw out the idea of traditional graduation altogether. Anyone who works hard enough to walk across the stage and receive a diploma. Every student whether traditional, 5th-year senior, mother of two, or athlete deserves a huge round of applause. 

Congrats December graduates, class of 2019! We are so proud of you!

(Photo by Baim Hanif on Unsplash)