Graduation and the End of One Phase of Life

We had our senior graduation at the University of North Florida Friday night. I shook hands with a number of former students there, sat through a mercifully short set of speeches, and watched the graduates get their diplomas. Normally I do not care much for symbolism like graduations but this was my last so it had special significance for me. I shared in the joy of the parents and their children at their having passed one of life's hurdles. Now many of the kids will go on to colleges around the country to further their education. A number of them will go to my old masters degree alma mater, the University of Florida.

My room looks disheveled with all of the boxes on the tables. By my count I have 4 boxes of personal things to take home and all the rest will stay with the teacher taking over for me. They will only have one Anatomy class next year because a lot of students dropped the class when they found out I would not be teaching it. I suppose this should make me feel good but it doesn't. I would like to see them taking Anatomy as a gateway to medicine for some and an increased self-knowledge of their bodies for others. I guess the principal may finally appreciate me a little after seeing the class without me there. I only wish I could have gotten the appreciation I earned while I was still there. I guess this is not an uncommon thing. It is human nature to take people for granted until they are gone.

Tomorrow we finish up final exams and I should be all wrapped up except for cleaning out my desk. I think I have a half dozen empty antacid bottles there at least!