Hail to thee our Alma Mater, Hail, all Hail, Cornell!

(continued from previous post)

Fortunately, we get up early morning on time, very fresh. “Congrats Swati, graduation day is here” is my wake up call to her. And that sums up our mood. Graduation day. Oh, that magic feeling.

Makhu has not signed up for graduation, forget about having the robes ready. We manage to reach the hall well before time and procure good robes for him. After taking lessons in wearing the robes, we are all set – and, as usual, hungry.

Swati comes to the rescue with ‘laddus’ from her friend to celebrate graduation. We can’t have enough of them. After tons of photographs before the ceremony, we are finally lined up to ‘walk’. Walk – the word suddenly means so much. It is the result of the hard work we have put in to get the degree. It means that ‘I’m a Cornell student’ now changes to ‘I was a Cornell student’. It’s the bittersweet fruit of accomplishment leaving the aftertaste of memories behind.

Dressed in our nice robes, we walk. As graduate students, we actually get to seat in the front row. Makhu is confident that he will fall asleep, after all he has slept in all IR classes in the first row.

The ceremony is nice. The speeches, the ‘morals’ of stories, all pass by. I can’t stop thinking of my mother and father. This ceremony is for you! We’re called on stage and given our diplomas. I did it. I graduated from Cornell University.

The Cornell song is inspiring. It springs forth a number of emotions in my mind. The whole of the past year races through in front my eyes. By the time is finishes, my eyes are moist and heart full of emotion. The chatterboxes that we are, me and Makhu can’t help passing comments after everything is done and faculty is walking out. We completely forget that we are in the first row and we must start following them. ‘Go go, you are out of here now’ cries the usher. That summarizes it all. We sprint behind the faculty, laughing.

It was so nice of Lisa to come to the ceremony. It was nice to have her watch me walk, take pictures of me. I will miss you so much Lisa, and I will miss you very very much, Cornell.