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2009 Graduation weekend: The Report
Spring 2009 is over and several of us BECA masters students are now BECA alumni. But before we surrendered our studenthood, we were given one final blazing day: Saturday May 23rd 2009. You who are still students will hopefully get to enjoy all the graduation trimmings as we did, but below is what lays in store for you.
I should say at this stage that I think that attending is a must - for the community and for oneself. This year, numerous graduating MA students didn't show up for either ceremony, which I think disappointed a few people. But those who attended either event were glad they came. As the only student who attended both BECA and SFSU ceremonies I can tell you that it was worth it!
Here's why...
[Note: Photos used without permission of owners, but I'm sure they don't mind.]
The BECA ceremony
BECA said it wanted graduating BA and MA students to show up at the Lowell High School football field, just across the road from the SFSU campus, between 7:45 and 8:15am. Good luck! There was no way I could rise from bed that early and as the ceremony started at 9am, there wasn't much point. I arrived in cap and gown at 8:15am to the encouraging sight of a hundred or so similarly dressed students. The students would sit in a block of white chairs, with faculty in the front row, and the audience sat in the bleachers opposite. It was the beginning of a happy day, undeterred by the cold fog that dominated the skies throughout.
MA students attending were me, Vidyut Latay, Lindsey Adams, Aurora Soria, Michele Ivanez, Michele Chandler, Tommy Morahan, and Utku Cebeci.
Graduating MA students Lindsey, Aurora, Michele, and Vidyut. Who's that cheeky face in the background? ;-)
The BECA ceremony was well-done with the right balance of brevity and sentimentalism. At 9am, Scott Patterson, the BECA chair, gave a speech, followed by short speeches from faculty members. Each monologue revolved around parting advice for students. My favorite speeches included Corless's, Michelle Wolf's, Sami Reist's (thanks for the personal mention, Sami!), and Rick Houlberg's - but there were many highlights besides.
Speeches aside, the students (MA then BA students) lined up. Michelle Wolf called out our names one by one and we then walked along the row of faculty, shaking hands (and hugging where necessary!). After that, the ceremony was over and we hung around for a while to exchange further warm words.
The comradery between the students, the real heart behind the faculty speeches, and the pride of friends and family coming down to support us made this a really rewarding ceremony to attend. I recommend it to every graduating students.
Post-graduation jubilation from Aurora and Lindsey. Jen Vaughn lends her mug to the scene.
The SFSU ceremony
Campus was awash with graduating students - 8,000 students were graduating today and departmental ceremonies had been happening all over campus and at locations nearby. In every visible place could be seen caps, gowns, and families.
The SFSU ceremony was to be held at 1pm Cox Stadium, on the other side of campus to the Creative Arts building. Thousands of students sat in the middle sports section and guests packed out the seating on the edge. At the front was a giant video screen and the stage. It was stunning to see so many thousands of people here for this ceremony. It was to be a great ceremony - lots of cheering from students and guests, numerous stirring speeches, a great vibe, and a real sense of accomplishment on the part of the students. It made one proud to be a SFSU student.
The video screen was the only way for many people to see the speakers.
Graduates were divided into their respective colleges. Creative Arts was in the middle and most BECA students were able to sit together. MA students attending were me, Sangdo Park, Jane Ren, Monica Xu, and Ya-Han Ke. However, I was alone amongst the BA students (I wasn't really "alone" of course - they guys are my friends and equals), so I got applauses from the others whenever I stood.
Me and Jane in the middle of graduation ecstasy.
This event, similar to the BECA ceremony, lasted above 2 1/2 hours and passed quickly. There was obviously a lot more pomp and circumstance and stately band music than at BECA but I still felt part of the event and that I was being honored by the university. There were many speeches - from the SFSU president Robert Corrigan to high-profile hood-recipients and others.
A sea of caps and gowns.
The highlights were from the Alumnus of the Year and the Honorary Degree conferrals. The Alumnus was Jeffrey Tambor, a prolific actor most recently known for playing George Bluth Sr in the awesome TV comedy Arrested Development. Jeffrey actually grew up across the road from SFSU. His speech was pretty amusing, especially the closing remark: "There's always money in the banana stand" (it's an Arrested Development reference)! (Watch Jeffrey's speech here.)
Jeffrey Tambor speaks to the audience.
Even more inspiring from a life coaching point of view were the two honorary degree conferral recipients, baseball legend Willie Howard Mays Jr and Morris Dees, who has spent his legal career combating discrimination and hate groups (watch Morris's speech here). The speeches of both men were stirring.
Willie Howard Mays bestows his experience and wisdom.
After the speeches, every student, row by row, went up to the base of the stage to collect a hardback folder with a letter from the SFSU President (the folder will be used for the degree certificate when it arrives in the mail) before leaving the stadium.
Afterwards, I drifted around campus for a while, checking out all the graduates and their families and mulling over the meaning of this day. Then I handed in my gown (you get to keep the cap), walked back to Lowell High School to get my bicycle and rode to and along Ocean Beach.
The day was over and so was my time as a BECA and SFSU student.
The BECA grad student picnic
The next day, 15 or so past, present, and future BECA graduate students gathered at Dolores Park for a picnic next to the children's playground. It was a fine afternoon - thanks to those of you who came down. It was good to meet some of the new students - good luck to you guys starting at BECA. The picnic made me realize that graduating doesn't mean leaving the community based around the BECA MA program. We can continue to keep in touch and connected.
Picnic-ing at Dolores Park. Not as cold as the previous day!
Personally, I doubt that my affiliation with BECA/SFSU ends here. I intend to keep my connections with the university and especially the students. It's been an amazing two years at BECA - so many fond faces, great collaborations, memorable classes, struggles and successes. It's only right that the foundations built during that time continue to reverberate into the future.
I'll see you there...
I should say at this stage that I think that attending is a must - for the community and for oneself. This year, numerous graduating MA students didn't show up for either ceremony, which I think disappointed a few people. But those who attended either event were glad they came. As the only student who attended both BECA and SFSU ceremonies I can tell you that it was worth it!
Here's why...
[Note: Photos used without permission of owners, but I'm sure they don't mind.]
BECA said it wanted graduating BA and MA students to show up at the Lowell High School football field, just across the road from the SFSU campus, between 7:45 and 8:15am. Good luck! There was no way I could rise from bed that early and as the ceremony started at 9am, there wasn't much point. I arrived in cap and gown at 8:15am to the encouraging sight of a hundred or so similarly dressed students. The students would sit in a block of white chairs, with faculty in the front row, and the audience sat in the bleachers opposite. It was the beginning of a happy day, undeterred by the cold fog that dominated the skies throughout.
MA students attending were me, Vidyut Latay, Lindsey Adams, Aurora Soria, Michele Ivanez, Michele Chandler, Tommy Morahan, and Utku Cebeci.
The BECA ceremony was well-done with the right balance of brevity and sentimentalism. At 9am, Scott Patterson, the BECA chair, gave a speech, followed by short speeches from faculty members. Each monologue revolved around parting advice for students. My favorite speeches included Corless's, Michelle Wolf's, Sami Reist's (thanks for the personal mention, Sami!), and Rick Houlberg's - but there were many highlights besides.
Speeches aside, the students (MA then BA students) lined up. Michelle Wolf called out our names one by one and we then walked along the row of faculty, shaking hands (and hugging where necessary!). After that, the ceremony was over and we hung around for a while to exchange further warm words.
The comradery between the students, the real heart behind the faculty speeches, and the pride of friends and family coming down to support us made this a really rewarding ceremony to attend. I recommend it to every graduating students.
Campus was awash with graduating students - 8,000 students were graduating today and departmental ceremonies had been happening all over campus and at locations nearby. In every visible place could be seen caps, gowns, and families.
The SFSU ceremony was to be held at 1pm Cox Stadium, on the other side of campus to the Creative Arts building. Thousands of students sat in the middle sports section and guests packed out the seating on the edge. At the front was a giant video screen and the stage. It was stunning to see so many thousands of people here for this ceremony. It was to be a great ceremony - lots of cheering from students and guests, numerous stirring speeches, a great vibe, and a real sense of accomplishment on the part of the students. It made one proud to be a SFSU student.
Graduates were divided into their respective colleges. Creative Arts was in the middle and most BECA students were able to sit together. MA students attending were me, Sangdo Park, Jane Ren, Monica Xu, and Ya-Han Ke. However, I was alone amongst the BA students (I wasn't really "alone" of course - they guys are my friends and equals), so I got applauses from the others whenever I stood.
This event, similar to the BECA ceremony, lasted above 2 1/2 hours and passed quickly. There was obviously a lot more pomp and circumstance and stately band music than at BECA but I still felt part of the event and that I was being honored by the university. There were many speeches - from the SFSU president Robert Corrigan to high-profile hood-recipients and others.
The highlights were from the Alumnus of the Year and the Honorary Degree conferrals. The Alumnus was Jeffrey Tambor, a prolific actor most recently known for playing George Bluth Sr in the awesome TV comedy Arrested Development. Jeffrey actually grew up across the road from SFSU. His speech was pretty amusing, especially the closing remark: "There's always money in the banana stand" (it's an Arrested Development reference)! (Watch Jeffrey's speech here.)
Even more inspiring from a life coaching point of view were the two honorary degree conferral recipients, baseball legend Willie Howard Mays Jr and Morris Dees, who has spent his legal career combating discrimination and hate groups (watch Morris's speech here). The speeches of both men were stirring.
After the speeches, every student, row by row, went up to the base of the stage to collect a hardback folder with a letter from the SFSU President (the folder will be used for the degree certificate when it arrives in the mail) before leaving the stadium.
Afterwards, I drifted around campus for a while, checking out all the graduates and their families and mulling over the meaning of this day. Then I handed in my gown (you get to keep the cap), walked back to Lowell High School to get my bicycle and rode to and along Ocean Beach.
The day was over and so was my time as a BECA and SFSU student.
The next day, 15 or so past, present, and future BECA graduate students gathered at Dolores Park for a picnic next to the children's playground. It was a fine afternoon - thanks to those of you who came down. It was good to meet some of the new students - good luck to you guys starting at BECA. The picnic made me realize that graduating doesn't mean leaving the community based around the BECA MA program. We can continue to keep in touch and connected.
Personally, I doubt that my affiliation with BECA/SFSU ends here. I intend to keep my connections with the university and especially the students. It's been an amazing two years at BECA - so many fond faces, great collaborations, memorable classes, struggles and successes. It's only right that the foundations built during that time continue to reverberate into the future.
I'll see you there...
Tags: 2009, graduation
1 Comment
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Comment by Alex on May 30, 2009 at 2:18pm - ur welcome for the BECA ceremony.
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