Q&A: Faculty and Staff Share Memories from their College Graduations
Commencement season is a special time of year when we celebrate our graduates moving on to the next phase of their lives. It’s also a time when some reminisce about their own college graduations. We asked some faculty and staff to share their favorite memories from their college graduations.
Sue Ruehle, faculty support supervisor, Faculty Support
Alma mater: Western Michigan University
I am the youngest of six kids and was the first in my family to graduate from college. Having my parents, siblings, their spouses, and my little niece and nephew see me walk across the stage to get my diploma was very special. We were in Miller Auditorium at WMU, and I could hear them all cheering as my name was announced. Sometimes, it’s hard for older siblings to be supportive of their younger siblings, but that day, I could feel their pride and love. It’s such a special memory. I look forward to returning to WMU in a few years to celebrate my son’s graduation!
Lennart Baardman, assistant professor of technology and operations
Alma maters: University of Groningen, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Thinking back to my own graduations, my most cherished memory is how my family traveled great distances to celebrate with me. Graduation is a special time to commemorate that a long time of hard work paid off, and there is no better group to celebrate this with than family. I felt most fortunate when my grandmother, who is almost 90 years old, traveled all the way to the UK and the USA to attend my graduations. Her presence, together with my parents and brother, turned my graduations into unforgettable moments. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of all the love and support from my family that helped me advance towards my degrees. Receiving my degree in front of thousands of people was great, but the pride and joy that I felt from my parents is something I valued a thousand times more.
Sidney Richardson, copywriter, Office of Marketing and Communications
Alma mater: Oakland University
I graduated from college in the spring of 2021, so I did not exactly have a “typical” graduation. We were still in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had been quarantining back home with my parents since the end of my junior year in 2020. My last year of college was completely online through Zoom, including my graduation ceremony.
When I started as a freshman at OU, I always imagined walking across a stage to receive my bachelor’s degree when I graduated. What really happened was underwhelming: I closed my laptop after finishing my last college class.
I was a part of the Honors College at OU, and traditionally, to complete my degree, I would have had to present a thesis paper I had been working on to a panel of professors and other professionals, plus an audience of other students in a lecture hall. I deeply dread public speaking, so I had been really sweating about presenting to a crowd my entire college career. Then, because all classes and activities were moved to an online format, all I had to do was give my presentation on Zoom. You’d be amazed how much less stressful it is to give that presentation from a webcam rather than a stage!
Besides getting out of having a nervous breakdown on stage, finishing college online wasn’t all that bad in other ways, too. I could do my internship remotely and see my family every day for the first time in years. It was so nice to hang out with my parents, brother, and dog every day, though I did miss my friends. The future seemed crazy, uncertain, and honestly scary, but I was still proud to close my laptop that day and know I just finished my bachelor’s degree.
Greta Adornetto, director of undergraduate student life and programs, Office of Undergraduate Programs
Alma maters: University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University
My U-M graduation took place during the renovation of the Big House, and commencement was held in the Diag. I remember the debate about commencement locations and how many of us were sad that ours wouldn’t be in the Big House like other commencements. Looking back, we had a unique experience, and now I am not even sure how they fit that many people into that space!
