Need a date for my Harvard Commencement

[tyro]

As a Word Nerd who was married to a reference librarian, I can especially appreciate the anecdote about the library.

T

[Diverdan]

You never know what reaching out to someone might mean in the future. When I was in graduate school, I often volunteered to take prospective students, both undergrads and grad students on tours of the campus. Sometimes it was alone, and sometimes with families. Two of them became friends after they started graduate school and one became a "very close" friend for a couple of years. Unfortunately we lost touch with each other over the years, but I have such fond memories of them !!!

[+ friendofsheila]

Local Hoo-villagers who know you from this board (or who just wish you well) should plan a restaurant or bar gathering for afterwards, and just be there, ready to cheer when you come in the door.

 

Congratulations on finishing. I know it's tough.

 

I got my masters with no one at the ceremony. I don't remember any lonely feeling: just the anticipation, and taking a "selfie" walking to the bus that would take me to the university. Maybe it'll be okay for you, too, if nothing works out.

[+ friendofsheila]

30 days and counting....

 

[Steven_Draker]

Good luck on your Commencement!

 

Don't attempt anything like this...

 

[video=youtube;Y5V2bikXnMU]

[jakeleyman]

You prob have plans all set for graduation but it's odd that I read this for the first time the same day my fav escort, Griffin Donovan, from Portland Maine, was reviewed. I spent the day with Griffin in New Orleans and just had a good old time. He is cute, intelligent, mischievous, funny and sexy. He may jump at the chance to join you at Harvard and would be tremendously fun company. You might persuade him to run down to Boston to join you. Grif needs your bucks, so plan to pay his reasonable rates; but you will get your money's worth I promise!

[Str8boyluvr]

Hi Everyone,

 

Well it's only 9 days to graduation and I am so excited! My cap and gown have been reserved, my commencement tickets have arrived in the mail and I'll be flying back to Boston on the 26th for an amazing week of Commencement events. I can't believe it's almost here. Final grades for this past semester get posted on the 28th.

 

Some recent developments:

 

1. I won the Commencement speaker speech competition for my Harvard school and get to deliver the speech as part of the diploma awarding ceremony after the Morning Exercises! It also comes with a $1000 which will help pay my travel expenses that week. I'm rehearsing it daily in an attempt to have it fully memorized.

 

2. As I have no use for all my various Commencement tickets, I've been reaching out to Harvard College undergrads and offering them an opportunity to invite an additional friend or family member to watch them graduate. It's been a very rewarding experience to give them away and make their day. Originally I was only given two tickets to the Morning Exercises (the norm for grad students at Harvard) but since I won the speech competition they offered me two more!

 

3. One of the undergrads offered me a ticket to his Class Day Picnic and Class Day exercises in exchange for a Morning Exercises ticket. So that will be a fun addition to my week since the grad students don't have the battery of events the undergrads do. I guess they figure we've been there and done that lol

 

If anyone has time to watch (or even just play in the background), you can see the Harvard Commencement live via the internet on Thursday morning, May 29th. I’ll be in that crowd somewhere! The fun starts around 8:30a. Here is the website link http://www.harvard.edu/live-stream

 

And most importantly I want to thank you guys and gals from the bottom of my heart for your support and encouragement. This has been a emotional roller-coaster for me and I know there will be more tears to come in the next week. Knowing there is at least someone out there rooting me on really has helped me cope.

 

Jason

[gallahadesquire]

Hi Everyone,

 

Well it's only 9 days to graduation and I am so excited! My cap and gown have been reserved, my commencement tickets have arrived in the mail and I'll be flying back to Boston on the 26th for an amazing week of Commencement events. I can't believe it's almost here. Final grades for this past semester get posted on the 28th.

 

Some recent developments:

 

1. I won the Commencement speaker speech competition for my Harvard school and get to deliver the speech as part of the diploma awarding ceremony after the Morning Exercises! It also comes with a $1000 which will help pay my travel expenses that week. I'm rehearsing it daily in an attempt to have it fully memorized.

 

2. As I have no use for all my various Commencement tickets, I've been reaching out to Harvard College undergrads and offering them an opportunity to invite an additional friend or family member to watch them graduate. It's been a very rewarding experience to give them away and make their day. Originally I was only given two tickets to the Morning Exercises (the norm for grad students at Harvard) but since I won the speech competition they offered me two more!

 

3. One of the undergrads offered me a ticket to his Class Day Picnic and Class Day exercises in exchange for a Morning Exercises ticket. So that will be a fun addition to my week since the grad students don't have the battery of events the undergrads do. I guess they figure we've been there and done that lol

 

If anyone has time to watch (or even just play in the background), you can see the Harvard Commencement live via the internet on Thursday morning, May 29th. I’ll be in that crowd somewhere! The fun starts around 8:30a. Here is the website link http://www.harvard.edu/live-stream

 

And most importantly I want to thank you guys and gals from the bottom of my heart for your support and encouragement. This has been a emotional roller-coaster for me and I know there will be more tears to come in the next week. Knowing there is at least someone out there rooting me on really has helped me cope.

 

Jason

 

I wish my friend Payson were still alive. He picked up my mother and me from Mechanics Hall, Worcester, after my Medical School graduation, in a 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special. He was dolled out in his chauffeur array. We went to the Old Mill in Westminster and had a wonderful time.

 

Unfortunately, he couldn't use the 1940 Buick Touring Limousine, as that was reserved for state occasions, as it was a tad rickety at the time.

[Diverdan]

CONGRATULATIONS, Jason... we are all proud of you and so happy that you will be giving that speech! Our thoughts and good wishes will be with you on May 29th. Stay in touch with us as you move forward with your life, knowing that a lot of folks will be routing for you along the way.

DD

[Str8boyluvr]

Sounds like a wonderful memory and a great friend. Glad he was able to make graduation day more special for you and your mom.

[+ FreshFluff]

What do you have planed for your speech, Jason.

 

BTW, please ask your hound to stop perving on my little cream Pomeranian.

[Str8boyluvr]

It's interesting since the speech I started in no way resembles the final version....99% different. You've got to love the revision process. I wanted it to focus on the day itself and not be about other distractions.

 

So it presents a novel way of thinking about Commencement at Harvard....through the eyes of a newborn. And it has two incredibly powerful and deeply emotional, yet inspiring anecdotes in it; one about a young man who thought he'd never get into Harvard and did, and another about a Harvard graduate from the Class of 1796. Regarding the latter, I found some of his writing, and in particular one paragraph that was so eloquent, I just had to use it.

 

It can only last 5 minutes, so it's three pages long double spaced.

 

And as for my "hound", that's baby Boudreaux the Boxer. He's straight but I think I can encourage him to be bi-curious.

[Daverwr]

And as for my "hound", that's baby Boudreaux the Boxer. He's straight but I think I can encourage him to be bi-curious.

 

With enough kibble, I'm sure you can!

 

Let me add my Congratulations to all the others. It is quite an accomplishment. Your family is missing out on the special man you have become!

[+ FreshFluff]

So it presents a novel way of thinking about Commencement at Harvard....through the eyes of a newborn. And it has two incredibly powerful and deeply emotional, yet inspiring anecdotes in it; one about a young man who thought he'd never get into Harvard and did, and another about a Harvard graduate from the Class of 1796. Regarding the latter, I found some of his writing, and in particular one paragraph that was so eloquent, I just had to use it.

 

Oh, a quote from an early graduate of the college. The faculty will love that

 

And as for my "hound", that's baby Boudreaux the Boxer. He's straight but I think I can encourage him to be bi-curious.

 

Who says the pom is male? In any case, now that I know Bordreaux has the appropriate pedigree, Fluffy may be allowed to play with him.

[+ beethoven]

Jason, I've been following these posts, and I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS, and I know that you will have a rewarding and useful life, whatever you decide to do. I think that you have already made the world a better place than you found it. I am very happy for you!

[+ friendofsheila]

How awesome that you won the competition, Jason! Good for you.

 

I think I can speak for all of us who've been following this when I say that I wish I could be there to shake your hand and give you my biggest smile.

 

And we want to hear about your day when it is over.

[Str8boyluvr]

Oh, a quote from an early graduate of the college. The faculty will love that

 

 

 

Who says the pom is male? In any case, now that I know Bordreaux has the appropriate pedigree, Fluffy may be allowed to play with him.

 

Sorry - didn't mean to imply the Pom was a boy, was just making a general statement regarding "converting him". He'll be happy to hump her on demand!

[+ FreshFluff]

Sorry - didn't mean to imply the Pom was a boy, was just making a general statement regarding "converting him". He'll be happy to hump her on demand!

 

Humping is for mutts. If Bordreaux wishes to be considered for my gorgeous little Pom's bed, he must court her properly. A few dinners at Harvest and a diamond collar would be a good start.

[+ friendofsheila]

Humping is for mutts. If Bordreaux wishes to be considered for my gorgeous little Pom's bed, he must court her properly. A few dinners at Harvest and a diamond collar would be a good start.

 

This thread has now been de-railed to pimp whatsername's goldigger ways.....

[Str8boyluvr]

How awesome that you won the competition, Jason! Good for you.

 

I think I can speak for all of us who've been following this when I say that I wish I could be there to shake your hand and give you my biggest smile.

 

And we want to hear about your day when it is over.

 

It's been an incredible week so far. Commencement is about 12 hours away. My speech is memorized. For the first time in a long long time, I can actually say I'm proud of myself.

 

Can't wait until tomorrow!

 

Watch the live stream - http://www.harvard.edu/live-stream

[+ Funguy]

It's been an incredible week so far. Commencement is about 12 hours away. My speech is memorized. For the first time in a long long time, I can actually say I'm proud of myself.

 

Can't wait until tomorrow!

 

Watch the live stream - http://www.harvard.edu/live-stream

 

Always be proud of yourself and your accomplishments…..from this point on, never look back - the world is now your playground!

[+ Funguy]

So…..how did our Harvard Grad do?

[Str8boyluvr]

Perfect Day

 

Hi Everyone! I apologize if this response is lengthy, but I didn't want to miss anything.

 

I arose at 0530 ET and put on all my Academic Regalia including my Class Marshal baton and red Marshal tassel. I also put a small framed photo of my dog in my front pocket, since I wanted him to be there with me.

 

First, the weather was perfect, low to mid 70's sunny with a slight breeze. It was a perfect day all around and Harvard certainly knows how to do a Commencement! People had told me to expect a lot of standing and waiting, and while this was true (there were about 6500 graduating students), it was a blast and worth every second of it. We marched as a school, following a bagpipe player, over to where the other graduate schools has assembled (Law, Business, Public Health, Medicine, etc.). Then we marched school by school to our seats in Tercentenary Theater, and that's when we first saw the 27,000 or so people who were waiting to see us. It was so cool to have the entire University gathered together. I've never seen so many happy people in one place.

 

Just before the ceremonies began, a motorcade arrived and out stepped the President of Turkey! Turns out his son was graduating from Harvard College (undegrad). Wonder what he got for a graduation gift?!

 

Jumping ahead a little...on our seats was a copy of the Commencement Program. Next to the singing of the National Anthem was the word "Soloist". Imagine the reaction when we saw Aretha Franklin rise to perform her version of it! She looked fabulous and sounded just as wonderful. The video of her performance is on YouTube now. We knew this was going to be one unforgettable day! Also on stage to receive Honorary Degrees were two Nobel Laureates, Michael Bloomberg and Pres H. W. Bush who is almost 90!

 

After all the Morning Exercises were over (don't miss the Undergrad Latin oration also on YouTube..he was awesome), I grabbed a very quick lunch, went over my speech and dashed off to my diploma awarding ceremony.

 

I ended up receiving my diploma and four other awards at the ceremony. I could barely carry it all! And there was of course, the speech. The venue was packed to capacity and the place was perfectly silent as I stepped up to the podium once the greeting applause stopped. I was able to deliver it 99% from memory and added a little ad lib to it as well. I felt pretty good about the delivery as I stepped off the stage. As the ceremony wrapped up and the grads were leaving, a number of people (grads and guests both) approached me to say how much they liked the speech. Some of the adjectives I recall hearing were, "great, magical, amazing, and tear-jerking".

 

The nicest comment was from a stranger as I was leaving Harvard following the Bloomberg speech (which I really enjoyed hearing and is also on YouTube) later that afternoon. A lot of strangers said "congrats" to me during the day (which really meant a lot to me) as I walked from place to place in my Regalia, but this woman also said she had heard my speech. She said it was perfectly written and beautifully delivered and brought tears to her eyes. I thanked her, gave her a hug and told her that was the nicest thing I'd been told all day.

 

I left Harvard that day with so many wonderful memories (and crimson award holders!). I'm still on a high from it all. I don't know what's in store for me next, but whatever it is, it's gonna be hard to top this past week.

 

And I'm so glad that many of you were part of this journey with me in spirit. I hope some of you were able to watch the live stream. I thought of this thread and your comments as I was sitting waiting for the Morning Exercises to begin and again when I received my diploma.

 

And so ends this chapter of my life. I'm excited to begin the next one.

 

-J

[oceansunshine]

Congrats!!!!

 

And some quick links:

 

 

 

And reposted:

 

http://www.harvard.edu/live-stream

[+ purplekow]

Congratulations. Quite an achievement and I am sure just a step in the long successful road which lies ahead.