Graduation
The final stage has been reached – I attended a degree ceremony. The Open University has students all over the UK, and in Europe, so it arranges degree ceremonies in Harrogate, Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast, Manchester, Dublin – all over the country, and in Europe. When my degree was conferred in absentia in August, I discovered that only two ceremonies had any spare places left this year, so it was either wait till next year, or go this September to Manchester or Versailles. Since I’m not going to take any more degrees, I treated the family to a weekend in Versailles.
Here‘s a Youtube link to what happened last year, with the same band, the same procession, the same Palais des Congres. They interview a number of MBA graduates – I think there’s a cohort based in Brussels.
Around 200 graduands were there to be presented to the pro-vice chancellor. The honorary graduate and the PVC gave suitably short motivating speeches, and everyone clapped and clapped and clapped. Indeed, those who’d achieved their first degree probably deserved the most applause because of the hurdles they’d overcome to achieve it part-time, at a distance, as adults with all the hassles that come with work, family, health and perhaps other disabilities. The blind student got long and loud applause. Others, perhaps less obviously disabled also earned their applause. It was great to hear family and friends cheer as particular graduands went up.
These OU ceremonies are occasions with wonderful positive affirmative atmospheres. Whether you are staff or student, if you get the opportunity, go to one.