Commencement 2016 x 2

Within the past two weeks I had the honor and privilege to attend two commencement ceremonies.

The first one had the President of the United States as a Keynote speaker.

I still remember how excited I was to vote in my very first election to then find out that my vote helped elect the President.

I watched his inauguration in the Brower Student Center at The College of New Jersey with my friends. The space was packed. The energy was high and we were all in awe of what was to come.

What was to come was my ability to watch this same man speak at the graduation of the University in which I work.

I went from watching him as a student at my undergraduate alma mater to watching him as a student affairs professional at another prestigious university. Who would have thought?

And although I am still amazed by this moment in time in which I was able to be present I still cannot help but think how two different commencement ceremonies can have such a different level of impact.

Yes, I was present as a volunteer at the Rutgers commencement ceremony and was able to see and hear the President speak live but at Bergen’s commencement ceremony I heard my name live. I saw the impact that I still have on my students even after leaving the institution three months ago. If I am to be honest with you and myself in many ways that moment in time will live with me far longer than any other.

It is an incredibly humbling and honoring experience to know and see the impact you have on your students. To hear your name said by students on stage during various speeches is the most rewarding gift any student can give you. I do not expect it. I do not do my work for that mention. I do it because my students are like my children to me. But like a parent I am moved beyond words when they take a moment to thank me.

I do not take the word mentor lightly and at Bergen’s commencement this year it was a privilege to be referred to as a mentor by so many of my children. And so yes, I will forever remember President Obama speaking at commencement but nothing compares to hearing your students thank you for the work you do, their parents thank you for the work you do, and to know that they will forever be your students if you let them.

I look forward to having some of my brightest students come to Rutgers University-New Brunswick this fall as I want them back on my campus with me. And two years from now I’ll see them graduate at commencement again when they walk across the stage to get their bachelor degrees from Rutgers University. And yes, I’ll still be surprised, humbled, and moved beyond words if they say my name on that stage again.