Winter Graduation 2023

New winter, new graduation. In winter, most of those getting their degrees are MSc students. These don’t finish in May but September, so they don’t get their degrees in July like the BScs. I had two MSc students, so a good chance at least one of them would be there. So I signed up.

Earlier that day I spoke with one of my colleagues; she had intended to go, but couldn’t after all. And she knows I always get an arbitrary gown. She suggested I take hers! It’s quite colourful. I thought it would be a good idea. 

I biked down in my pragmatic clothes, found a quiet ladies’ room to change in, went to get a gown, pretended to be my colleague, and got hers. Then I went to the Council Chamber where we always gather before the ceremony. The atmosphere in there tends to be a bit giggly (not what I would have expected), and when it was announced everything was postponed by 15 minutes, that didn’t get any less. But in the end we did end up looking all serious in the cortège. And the ceremony could start. 

Me in my snazzy outfit

Lined up for the procession 

The first graduand was very overwhelmed. He was crying! And clutching a double portrait. His parents, the grapevine later said. I hope it was happy tears! And many more graduands followed. Our students came last. And my Yorkshire student didn’t appear. But to my delight, my Indian student did! It was so good to see her. 

At the end of the ceremony we sang the national anthem. The good news and the bad news was that I was next to Dei. He is a spirited Welshman and a trained singer! So if you struggle with when you should sing what (a church organ, which was our accompaniment, isn’t perfect for that) you can hold on to what he is doing. But my singing is crap, so I make sure not to go too loud! It might hurt his soul how I butcher this important song. 

After the ceremony we were ushered into the courtyard for pictures. I saw my student come down the stairs, but she didn’t spot me. So when the pictures were taken, and we were going back up the stairs, I looked out for her. And found her! Finding people is hard when everyone wears a gown and a hat. She was so glad to have successfully rounded off her master’s. It had been difficult at times. I was also very glad, and proud of her. We hugged. And made sure to get our picture taken. 

Happy student, happy supervisor 

I then gave the gown back, and made my way to the reception. There I did more mingling, ate some food, and had a glass of sparkly wine. And I cheered for the three students who had won prizes. And then two of my colleagues wanted to make a more informal announcement. I had no idea where they were going. But then they said it was my birthday, and they made the whole reception sing ‘happy birthday’ for me. That was very sweet. And it turned out to have been my student’s birthday the day before. Festivity all around! So when the reception trundled towards its end I left in a cheerful mood. I was glad I had come! 

The university mace