Graduation

Well hello there from the top of the world.

Friday marks the end of the week for us and the start of a weekend for us. But for some Ilisagvik (the college where we are staying) students it was the end of their time at college and the beginning of their lives. If these words sound familiar they should because we attended Ilisagvik's graduation.

The ceremony started out with the all so familiar procession of graduates, but instead of a "classic" graduation song like Pomp and Circumstance the students walked into the auditorium to native drumming and singing. And instead of walking through a boring arch or nothing at all the graduates walked through two huge pieces of baleen. It was a beautiful procession. As the ceremony got under way in true Barrow style the schedule they provide us for the ceremony was all out of order, ahh Barrow.

During the ceremony one of the students gave a speech and talked about her hardships throughout life but how the support of her parents pulled her through. She invited all of the parents, guardians, and relatives to stand up and receive praise for their support and love. It was quite heartwarming.

When it was time for graduate to receive their diplomas there was a lot of hooting and hollering. A father accepted a diploma for his son who was unable to graduate. This man got up on stage, accepted the diploma, and then made to leave but stopped at the podium to say a "few" words. A "few" words turned into about a 7 minute speech about the benefits and real life scenarios his sons education has helped him in and how he had no idea that his son was going to graduate from college, ahh Barrow. He ended his speech with a heartwarming phrase saying "We sometimes don't know what our kids are into, but this turned out good."

After the graduation ceremony there was a pow wow-esque party. There was food, mingling, dancing and singing. It was great! There was a little boy with huge cheeks that was the most precious little guy and he got up on stage and danced with the dancers. So then everybody started trickling up to the stage to dance, including some gusties. We danced a couple of the traditional Inupiat dances which was probably quite the sight to behold.

All of us liked being at the graduation because it made us look forward to our own graduation. Its hard to think that in about a month we will all be walking into the football stadium to "Pomp and Circumstance", cheering when our friends cross that stage and get their diplomas, and maybe shedding some tears when we walk out of the stadium. Tears that symbolize a sadness for the end of one stage of our lives but tears of joy for the beginning of a new one.


Meredith