Mike Parker: The 'Fourth' was with us
Saturday, May 4th, was a special day for my family. At 11 a.m., granddaughter Haley received her Bachelor’s degree in Archeology from East Carolina. Haley graduated “Summa Cum Laude” – “with highest honors.” Her granddad – me – received my undergraduate degree “Thank you, Lawdee.”
At 3 p.m., my daughter Sara received her Master’s in Nursing Education from ECU. For a number of years, Sara has taught clinical classes for the ECU School of Nursing and Pitt Community College in addition to her regular nursing duties in the Heart Center in Greenville.
I never dreamed I would be able to see a daughter and a granddaughter receive degrees on the same day. The day was a rollercoaster of emotions. Images of both of them as little babies, young girls, and teens ran through my mind. I recalled some of the hard times both went through during their college studies.
Sara and Haley elected not to attend the grand commencement exercises on Friday morning, opting instead to receive recognition during the departmental graduation celebrations. That move makes perfect sense to me. Individual students and even departments can be swallowed up in the sea of roughly 4,950 graduates who received their degrees on May 3.
I still remember attending the university-wide commencement when I received my MA in English. The chancellor asked all who were receiving each degree to stand in unison and with a movement much like the Pope blessing to multitudes at the Vatican, bestowed “the rights and privileges” pertaining to our degrees upon us. The year I received my MA was also the first year the ECU Medical School awarded medical degrees. Each doctoral graduate came to the stage to be hooded.
Haley’s ceremony combined the departments of Sociology and Archeology. A young lady from Kinston who was receiving her BA in Archeology delivered remarks on behalf of the undergraduates receiving their degrees. A young lady from Sociology delivered remarks on behalf of those receiving graduate degrees.
After church on May 5th, our family went to King’s to celebrate Sandra’s 28th birthday yet again. Twenty-two of us surrounded the string of tables the staff at King’s had put together to accommodate us. I looked around that table and realized that every adult member of my family – whether family by blood or marriage – has earned some type of degree in a field of his or her interest.
I had a flash back. I recalled a photo of my Aunt Dot in her high school cap and gown. She was the first person in our family to graduate from high school. The photo was made in June 1950. My mother, Irene, was in the photo, pregnant with me.
In 1968, I became the first male member of our family to graduate from high school. In 1971, I hit a new pinnacle – the first to graduate from college.
Although I am certainly proud of the educational achievements of my family, I am even more proud of the work ethic I have seen in my children and in their children. All my adult grandchildren are hard workers. They understand the need to resist spending everything they make and the need to save.
May 4th and May 5th reminded me anew of just how blessed I am. I wish I could find the words to let my children and grandchildren know how proud I am of them.
I still have eight more in the nests of their parents. Isaiah is a rising senior. Abby and Alex are rising sophomores. Ben and Hannah are rising freshmen. Alli and Laney will be seventh graders and Luke will be in fifth grade.
Whether they go to college or attend a trade school, I want them all to know that I support their efforts and expect great things from them.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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