Five and a half years ago, I married the man of my dreams. Like me, he had a child living at home. His son was a couple of years older than my daughter, and had already started college.
Of course, it took some time for us to get to know each other, and I admit that I took exception to some of his actions. All of 20 years old and still stuck between being a boy and a man. It was hard, sometimes, to wrap my brain around some of the decisions this straight A student made.
We probably learned more about each other during the time spent together doing farm work; I think he learned a little about himself during those times, as well. Up until that point, he knew little about living in the country. I’m sure it’s not what he first expected.
I have always run a pretty tight ship, and I am sure that it was not easy being the first boychild on my ship. Talk about culture shock!
Towards the end of his 4 years in college, he made the decision to become a chiropractor. He had begun dating a young woman who was a student at Tarleton University, and they decided to stay together when he moved to Houston for chiropractic school.
She was also trying to decide what she wanted to do as a career, but she thought it would be in the medical field. So, while in Houston, she took classes and worked. It wasn’t long after they arrived in Houston that they decided to get married.
This had to be a trying time for them. Chiropractic college is intense, with an insane number of hours per trimester. My stepson really didn’t have a life for the first couple of years. My daughter-in-law was working and going to school. Their love must be really strong to survive that hectic of a life.
They grew up a lot in those 3 ½ years. This past weekend, I was delighted to be present at a pivotal point in their lives. This past weekend, my husband and I attended their graduations.
Saturday morning was a bit chilly, windy, and overcast. My stepson’s graduation took place in the auditorium of his school, Texas Chiropractic College. It was a very formal ceremony in which all of the faculty attended, as well as the school leaders. All were dressed in the traditional caps, gowns, and hoods, while some were adorned with ropes and metals.
Aside from the customary invocation, and speeches from the valedictorian, salutatorian, and school officials, each graduate was hooded prior to receiving their certificate. The practice of awarding and placing a hood on graduates started centuries ago, and serves the purpose of recognizing scholarly and professional achievements.
Following the hooding ceremony, the graduates were pronounced Doctors of Chiropractic and they recited the Chiropractic Oath. I was having trouble holding back the tears.
Sunday afternoon was considerably warmer but threatened of rain. My daughter-in-law’s graduation ceremony took place at the baseball stadium Minute Maid Park. She actually had received here degree of Medical Radiography in August, but had decided to pursue certification in Mammography while waiting for her husband to finish his degree.
The graduation ceremony was for the summer and fall graduates for all of the campuses of San Jacinto Community College, which is why it was held in a large stadium.
Compared to the ceremony of my stepson’s small graduating class, her ceremony was very long. I think the college did a nice job recognizing people who were there for different reasons like wanting to be a better provider for their family, being the first in the family to earn a degree, veterans going back to school, etc.
The college had a faculty brass band which played music while the all the teachers, staff, officials, and students walked into the stadium. The atmosphere was very light and celebratory, which the audience seemed to pick up on. Although the stadium was large, there were several cameras filming everything and it was displayed on the big screen TV, meaning that everyone had a good view.
Graduates were recognized according to the certification or degree they received. Everyone had their name called, and walked across the stage to receive their graduation document. Our daughter-in-law was in the last group, but it was worth the wait to see her smile as she made her way across the stage.
Words can’t describe the pride I have for these two individuals who became part of my family not all that long ago. They charted a course and set out on their own, away from family and friends. They made a commitment to each other in marriage, and grew together during some pretty tough challenges.
Now they are setting off in a new direction to begin their lives as professionals in the medical community. I can’t wait to see them grow and flourish as kind and compassionate adults caring for others. They mean the world to me, and I am happy that we are family.
Psalms 98:4 Shout to the lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
