OU Graduation

On December 15th, Rex graduated from the University of Oklahoma, College of Education. He graduated with special distinction (GPA of 3.75 or higher), gracing him with a gold hood. What an honorable accomplishment! I'm so proud of him!

We went to the ceremony that evening, and we didn't even have to worry about a babysitter because Mom and Sarah were visiting during that time. Rex said the ceremony was exactly what he had expected, but I was more than a little disappointed. Sure, it was only the College of Education that walked, not the entire university, but I thought more people would be dressed up and there would be at least a speech by the college chairperson or someone. I most certainly wasn't expecting it to be held in the volleyball/wrestling gym. (None of the theaters were booked....) And I especially didn't expect the refreshments to be served in the "foyer" -- the hallway. It was packed like sardines, with no room for mingling, much less for picture-taking, and the only way out was to push and shove your way out. The poor graduates had to wait outside in the cold Oklahoma wind for half an hour before the processional started. There was no "pomp and circumstance" but instead some unknown song played with bagpipes to escort the graduates. And they played the unfortunate "Boomer Sooner" fight song during the recessional. It was then that I realized the state song really was "Oklahoma" from the musical. I was expecting something more respectful and dignified, something more congratulatory, something at least as nice as my own high school graduation. Instead, it felt more like a joke. To top it off, Rex found that he had indeed been issued the wrong-sized robe -- a foot too small -- and his hood was badly frayed. But alas, what should I expect from Oklahoma? I should know better than to set my standards that high for an institution that thinks football more important than education.

Now Rex only has one more semester: student teaching and a few grad classes. Then we can begin the next phase of our lives and get the heck out of this embarrassing state.