MEMOIR MONDAYS: Graduating on the Big Stage
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!
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:
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Stacey Shubitz View All
I am a literacy consultant who focuses on writing workshop. I've been working with K-6 teachers and students since 2009. Prior to that, I was a fourth and fifth-grade teacher in New York City and Rhode Island.
I'm the author of Craft Moves (Stenhouse Publishers, 2016) and the co-author of Jump Into Writing (Zaner-Bloser, 2021), Welcome to Writing Workshop (Stenhouse Publishers, 2019), and Day By Day (Stenhouse, 2010).
I live in Central Pennsylvania with my husband and children. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, doing Pilates, cooking, baking, making ice cream, and reading novels.
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
Why 2 Master’s degrees?
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What a story to tell your children! Great pictures. You make me want to get all my pictures organized.
Lennye
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Always love the amazing photos that go with stories and your purple gowns and your writing carried me completely.
Congrats on the degrees!
~jane
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I love the pictures that go with your memoir.
(not much like a Purple People Eater, but funny reference anyway)
kevin
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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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Radio City stage in heels. That’s a challenge! I can see it! What a great memory.
Bonnie
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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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Reading about your graduation brought back the flood of memories about my own. Learning for the sake of learning is enough. But, then a masters is awesome too. I bet your parents and family are very proud of you! I was very pleased to earn that honor too. http://www.debrennersmith.com
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