Upon A Daughter's Graduation From College

It's funny. I didn't feel that teary when we bid you goodbye that first day of college such a short time ago.I knew I would miss you, sure, but as I wrote then, how could I be sad? This was the college of your dreams. I knew you had many fun, adventurous, exhilarating and educational (I hoped) times ahead. I knew that we would keep in touch by e-mail and instant messaging.But I fear the flood of tears that I will shed upon your graduation. Why would I cry now, not then? What do I feel now?

Well of course, now I cry not out of sadness, but out of joy, pride, and a little fear and trepidation for what lies ahead.

Let's take the joy and pride first. You kids never understood my tears of joy. You understand crying at a sad movie, but at a happy movie? I am overflowing with joy of course that you made it through. I don't even take high school graduation for granted any more, let alone college. Life itself often throws curves to students. Any college is hard. Your college is especially competitive even though some of the courses you chose were on the lightweight side. (Come on-"Tonal Theory For People Who Don't Know How to Read Music" when you've read music since sixth grade?) Other classes like studying Women in Chinese Literature and discovering parallels to great English novels that your professors hadn't even thought of were more challenging. I was pleased you tackled "Warfare and Ethics" with one of the toughest profs in the school. It was said he didn't believe in grade creep-no easy A's.

I was also proud of the way your world expanded through your stint in Belgium, and becoming a good friend with your roommate from Cyprus and learning all about the little-understood conflict that splits the idyllic island of Cyprus in two parts-an island you were fortunate enough to experience first hand by visiting in her home. And teaching others about life and geography in North America (that you can't just hop over to Chicago if you are in Washington, D.C., for example, like some thought), and teaching Jose from Spain what Sloppy Joes are. "So this is a Joe. A Sloppy Joe. A Sloppy Joe?" you said Jose asked while downing his sandwich at one of your potlucks in Belgium.

But some of the real tests came not in the lecture halls but in life learning like applying for a job on campus and having to get your birth certificate faxed to a nearby store, turning in paper work on time for the room lottery each spring, and sucking up your loneliness, as you said, by venturing to someone else's room to make friends when you were a freshman.

Now you face the so-called "real world." Will you be able to get a job? One that you like? One that supports you in a city that seems so outlandishly expensive to us country folks? Will you be able to withstand the temptations of independence and stay true to the Christian values and beliefs you were raised with? I guess that is why the tears come now: the future is more unknown out of college than in the safe confines of structured education. I'm sure there is a whole lot more learning ahead but I'm just as sure you are up to the task.

Over the years my columns and books have chronicled your growing up years, and while this may seem too sentimental I know that many other parents and grandparents will identify with this mixture of joy, pride, fear and trembling. Congratulations to all graduates this spring!

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Contributed by Melodie Davis from her weekly columnANOTHER WAY (http://www.thirdway.com/aw/).For information on using Another Way in a local newspaper, contact:ANOTHER WAY, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2497; or call1-800-999-3534; fax at 540-434-5556; or email me at:Melodie@mennomedia.org