My graduation Day
Sunday, May 15th. Today is the day that marks my transition from a cocky freshman to a learned scholar, from a child to an adult. Although, Ive always felt I had to be young at heart throughout my whole life, I realize that I also have to grow up with my responsibilities at the same time. My days will no longer be completly unstructured waking up at 10:00 and staying up till 3 am. I can no longer get blitzed in between classes and I can't skip one of my work meetings to attend a world reknown speaker giving a lecture on peace at the Kroc. Also, I cannot run around with boys finding myself in precarious situations especially if I will be in public service for the rest of my life to some degree. Joanna has to grow up.
This scares me, but with the help of my brother it has become a little easier. My mom has spoken of a surprise to me. Little did I know how complicated I would feel about this surprise. On Friday after the hesburgh lunch, my parents and I sat down on a bench underneath the golden dome, very fitting as Mary was gazing down upon us and Jesus was in my corner. Nathan's car accident we had often thought was because the driver didnt really check his blindspot and overcorrected. Over the course of these past 4 years my dad's law firm, though not my dad, had investigated the accident and apparently the porche that was driving too fast in the left lane caused my brother's car to swerve off the road. I dont know details, but apparently the police report was botched and witnesses confirmed that the porche was at fault. My mom and Dick, Nathan's dad won a sizeable amount of money. My mom and dad didnt want their half of the money and they thought Nathan would want Katie and I to have the money because we are the ones who are losing out the most. We miss our older brother. So here I am on graduation Day knowing that because of this sizeable gift from Nathan, my sizeable debt which feels almost like a year's tuition will be taken care of. I do have this tremendous gift from Nathan, but it's hard knowing that he won't be here on graduation like all the other siblings and how it pains my heart each time another parent asks mom if she has any other children and sometimes it's easier just not to mention his name..
As Bishop Darcy said in yesterday's closing at Notre Dame we give reverence to both faith and reason, knowing that both helps us strive towards the TRUTH, the word and the life of Jesus. With both my faith and my reason, I know that our loved ones will be there today under the cloak of our great Lady.
During the mass and all of our mini department ceremonies, it is difficult looking at all of these brillant faces..the scores of classmates although not my best friends have made a tremendous impact on my life. They have their smiles, the time they yelled obscene things during games, their witty/intelligent comments in class deriding the teacher. To all these people, I wish I could tell them you have forever made an impact on my life, in my memories, in my thoughts. Faith is a funny thing. When you're not steadfast, you tend to overworry, be over neurotic. Today, my goal is to have the FAITH. to have the faith that my dearest friends will always be a part of my life and the faith that Notre Dame will always be a part of our lives. And most importantly, my faith needs to grow so that I can be with everyone on the last day (in case anything should happen).
Happy Graduation Day.
"And whether you are absorbed in the most important pursuits, reaching out for the highest honors, or struck down by the cruelest griefs, always remember how good it felt when we were all here together, united by a good and decent feeling, which made us, for a time...better people, probably, than we would otherwise have been."
-The Brothers Karamazov
This scares me, but with the help of my brother it has become a little easier. My mom has spoken of a surprise to me. Little did I know how complicated I would feel about this surprise. On Friday after the hesburgh lunch, my parents and I sat down on a bench underneath the golden dome, very fitting as Mary was gazing down upon us and Jesus was in my corner. Nathan's car accident we had often thought was because the driver didnt really check his blindspot and overcorrected. Over the course of these past 4 years my dad's law firm, though not my dad, had investigated the accident and apparently the porche that was driving too fast in the left lane caused my brother's car to swerve off the road. I dont know details, but apparently the police report was botched and witnesses confirmed that the porche was at fault. My mom and Dick, Nathan's dad won a sizeable amount of money. My mom and dad didnt want their half of the money and they thought Nathan would want Katie and I to have the money because we are the ones who are losing out the most. We miss our older brother. So here I am on graduation Day knowing that because of this sizeable gift from Nathan, my sizeable debt which feels almost like a year's tuition will be taken care of. I do have this tremendous gift from Nathan, but it's hard knowing that he won't be here on graduation like all the other siblings and how it pains my heart each time another parent asks mom if she has any other children and sometimes it's easier just not to mention his name..
As Bishop Darcy said in yesterday's closing at Notre Dame we give reverence to both faith and reason, knowing that both helps us strive towards the TRUTH, the word and the life of Jesus. With both my faith and my reason, I know that our loved ones will be there today under the cloak of our great Lady.
During the mass and all of our mini department ceremonies, it is difficult looking at all of these brillant faces..the scores of classmates although not my best friends have made a tremendous impact on my life. They have their smiles, the time they yelled obscene things during games, their witty/intelligent comments in class deriding the teacher. To all these people, I wish I could tell them you have forever made an impact on my life, in my memories, in my thoughts. Faith is a funny thing. When you're not steadfast, you tend to overworry, be over neurotic. Today, my goal is to have the FAITH. to have the faith that my dearest friends will always be a part of my life and the faith that Notre Dame will always be a part of our lives. And most importantly, my faith needs to grow so that I can be with everyone on the last day (in case anything should happen).
Happy Graduation Day.
"And whether you are absorbed in the most important pursuits, reaching out for the highest honors, or struck down by the cruelest griefs, always remember how good it felt when we were all here together, united by a good and decent feeling, which made us, for a time...better people, probably, than we would otherwise have been."
-The Brothers Karamazov