Weekly Column From Ottley

My granddaughter, (Cynthia's daughter) writes a weekly column in an Idaho
Newspaper. This is this weeks.
Love, Donnette

May 25, 2007
Celebrate!
By, KIMBERLY OTTLEY
I was surprised at the emotions I felt as I glanced out the glass doors
of the dark library and watched the line of blue-clad graduates preparing
for a processional. The year was 1994, and by all rights I should have
been wearing a cap and gown as well. I had successfully completed the
requirements for an associate degree at Ricks College, but instead of
attending the graduation ceremony I had volunteered to work the Saturday
shift at the David O. McKay library.
College students are notoriously poor, and my husband and I were no
exception. We had spent the first year of our marriage freezing, and
starving, as we both attended classes full time while working as many
hours in between as we could. By the end of the school year we had each
managed to complete our degrees, but there was not enough money in our
bank account to pay for caps and gowns.
Michael and I reconciled ourselves to the situation, and convinced
ourselves it was no big deal. We didn’t need to march. What a bother!
When my maternal grandparents inquired about graduation, and I explained
how our lack of funds prevented us from participating, they offered to
pay for the caps and gowns themselves. We declined the offer on the
grounds that the deadline for ordering caps and gowns had passed, and,
besides, we didn’t want to go through all the fuss anyway.
And so there I stood. After spending a quiet morning floating among the
aisles of the reference department I had turned off the lights in the
library, and was making my final preparations to return home. It was at
that moment that my eyes met those of a smiling, blonde graduate. She and
I had gone to high school together. Our brief gaze filled me with
depression and regret. I imagined that she pitied me for not being part
of the shimmering sea of laughing young people.
On that day I made a pact with myself that I would complete my bachelor’s
degree no matter what, and when I did, I was going to wear the outfit!
I learned a valuable lesson. Human achievement must be celebrated! It is
an insult to the human spirit to treat accomplishment with indifference.
Anything worth doing has some kind of difficulty attached to it that must
be overcome. Thus, when something is achieved we should rejoice over it
since it is proof that we were strong enough, smart enough, or clever
enough, to stare opposition in the face and say, “I win!”
Each success is fuel for the next challenge.
I have been the recipient of more than one graduation announcement during
the past few weeks. Many of my former students have recently become high
school graduates as well. It is with great pleasure that I extend
congratulations! May your celebrations be worthy of your achievements!
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