Throughout the months of May and June, graduates from grade school to graduate school put on their shiny robes and funny hats and attend commencement ceremonies that mark the conclusion of another stage in their academic lives. Today, I had the honor and pleasure of receiving my Doctor of Philosophy degree from Loyola University Chicago.


Photo: My parents are very proud of me!

In my role at Midwestern University, I attend usually four or five graduations each year. In Downers Grove, we have graduations nearly every season; in Glendale, we have one ceremony in June. Throughout the year, I work with my staff to plan all the details of the commencements to make sure everything goes as planned on the special day. As I sit on the platform, I get to see our newest alumni walk across the stage to shake the hand of their dean and to receive a warm handshake or hug from Dr. G. Some have tears in their eyes; others have smiles from ear to ear. Today, I got to experience that same feeling of having my name called and walking across the stage to shake the hand of the university president. I felt the usual mix of emotions: pride in my accomplishment, joy at finally finishing, and, mostly, I felt truly loved by my family and friends.


Photo: Abby and me

When the robe is back on its hanger and the framed diploma is hanging on my wall, what I will remember is the look in my father's eyes when he first called me "Dr. Johnson." I will remember the smile on my mom's face when she saw me walking to the stage. I will remember my 9-year-old niece Abby watching her first college graduation with her dad (my brother David) and dreaming about her future. I will realize that my friends thought of me on this day and called to leave messages of congratulations. I will think of my friends and colleagues at MWU who have supported me during the 8 years I was working on my Ph.D. and who always remembered to ask how my research was going. Graduation is a time for family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate and appreciate each other. I certainly appreciation everything my family has done for me to help me get where I am today.


Photo: My Loyola program, my grandfather's 1925 high school graduation program, and the "Wow, A Ph.D.!" necklace from my parents.

Graduation is also a time to mark family milestones. My parents know that I love history, and so they brought with them my grandfather's graduation program from Sycamore Community High School in 1925. My mom recalled how proud her father was to have been a high school graduate. While this is something many of us take for granted today, back in the 1920s, many young men had to work and couldn't afford to spend time in high school. Both of my grandmothers only went to school through eighth grade. How amazed they would be to know that their granddaughter is now the first doctor in the family.

Many of you may be celebrating your college graduations this spring, while others may be looking forward to your graduate school commencement. If I had one bit of advice for you it would be to remember how much your family may have sacrificed for you to be able to pursue your dreams; think about how much of their hopes and dreams are now invested in you. And give them a big hug to show them how much you appreciate them. Commencement is a great time to celebrate an academic accomplishment and also an important time to start defining your next challenge. Congratulations fellow graduates, and I love you, mom and dad!