memoir · memories · new york city · wn entry

MEMOIR MONDAYS: Graduating on the Big Stage

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  • High School Graduation: Princeton, NJ [The (grassy) Mall on Campus]
  • College Graduation: Washington, DC [The Smith Center]
  • First Grad School Graduation: New York, NY [Radio City Music Hall]
  • Second Grad School Graduation: New York, NY [Riverside Church & Columbia Quad]
  • My first master’s degree was special. I worked so incredibly hard to earn the 46 credits I needed for my M.S.Ed. I overcame a lot of personal hardships during this time and prevailed by being inducted into Kappa Delta Pi. I did fieldwork at countless schools and student-taught at P.S. 72 (fifth grade) and P.S. 59 (third grade). Therefore, when I reached my graduation day from Hunter College, I totally bought into the whole “Graduating at Radio City Music Hall” Thing. Yes, that’s right, our graduation was held one one of the biggest stages in NYC: Radio City Music Hall!

    Most of the Cohort
    We were lined up in the bowels of Radio City Music Hall for what seemed like forever in my 2″ heels. My cohort and I posed for photos, but after awhile, we got a little antsy. However, it was totally worth the wait since there’s nothing like walking down the aisle and onto the stage of Radio City Music Hall. And once we got on stage, looking out at the huge auditorium of people gathered there was just awesome. It didn’t matter that I looked like a purple-people-eater in my cap and gown or that my feet were tired. Seeing all of these proud people gathered there to celebrate the accomplishments of their loved ones that day brought tears to my eyes. (Somewhere out there were my parents, who I found at the end of the graduation, and Dr. Gonzalez, my beloved professor who was tough-as-nails and extremely invested in all of his students’ well-being.)

    Other photos from that special day:
    Stacey and Maria 132-3247_IMG 132-3249_IMG


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    8 thoughts on “MEMOIR MONDAYS: Graduating on the Big Stage

    1. Nancy: I should’ve, but didn’t. I think I did something cheesy backstage with the other ladies from my cohort… I believe we sang “NEW YORK NEW YORK.”

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    2. Great story! I didn’t even go to my grad school graduation… I had to work. LOL. What an amazing experience to be able to stand on the Radio City stage. I would’ve done a Rockette kick. Did you? 🙂

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