We got the graduation program and the first thing I noticed was how thick it was.
There were over 50 pages. 50!
I flipped through it, marveling at all the names of the people graduating from college.
"We are going to be here for a long time," I surmised.
.jpg)
I didn't mind. Too much. After all, my son was graduating with his Bachelor's in Film & Media. (He also has an Associates in Video Cinematography.) It was a great day! An exciting day.
A long day.
Whew. I shifted in my seat, ignoring the slight pain in my left butt cheek.
Still, at least the Air Conditioning was strong.
When that familiar song came on and the graduates started emerging, my heart lifted.
It took about 30 minutes for everyone to filter in. I am not joking.
But I did find Tommy in that sea of navy blue and orange, so we waved and hooted and hollered at him. I pictured him as a little boy, having meltdowns, teachers calling me frequently. I promised--I swore to Tommy that everything would be okay, that he'd succeed. No matter what anyone said. I studied all I could about autism.
And look. Look. He was graduating college.
When his name was called, he did the dab and 67 move. He was jubilant as he crossed the stage. Maybe he was thinking about all the struggles he went through. And he persevered.
.jpg)
I won't even lie when I say I was thrilled when Tommy said we could go soon after he received his degree. Many other graduates were doing the same thing because if not, they'd have been waiting for another three hours.
We met him outside, and I was so proud. He did it!
.jpg)
And I don't think anyone will be shocked to know the spot that he picked to eat dinner.
.jpg)
The love for McDonald's runs in the family. What can we say? We adore the fries.
Tommy says he's slowly realizing what graduating means. No more papers. No more finals.
The REAL real world. Finding a job. His dream is to edit movies. And I know he can do it, as his resume is impressive. He's worked on countless projects.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Posts
Great! Like how you shared the smaller, personal moments alongside the milestone. The detail about the ceremony itself felt real, not overly polished.
ReplyDeleteBig congrats to the graduate! We have a high school graduation to go to this week. I'm excited.
ReplyDeleteHappy news! Big kudos to the graduate an I do not blame him for wanting to leave. I wonder if they could do these ceremonies in an easier way!
ReplyDeleteA joyful reflection on graduation from UTSA, capturing the pride, memories, and excitement of stepping into a brand-new chapter of life.
ReplyDeleteWOW, this is awesome and such a beautiful, Blessed moment for him and you! Tommy will be great and he will one day become a movie producer. Congratulations Tommy!
ReplyDeleteCongrats for your boy! Such an emotional day, I'm glad to know you all had a blast!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Tommy. I can’t wait to see where your career takes you. College isn’t easy and you did it! I hope you enjoy your trip and then find an amazing job opportunity.
ReplyDeleteHUGE congratulations to him! That is so exciting. Another chapter of life closes, and a new one begins.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Tommy! His adventure is just beginning! I hope he finds his most perfect job to showcase his talents!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great reminder that perseverance matters. Watching your son graduate despite every struggle, doubt, and obstacle must have made every difficult moment of this feel incredibly worthwhile. Huge congratulations to Tommy!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is great Tommy has gotten to work on many projects. And yes the real world, with finding a job can be stressful. Good luck. He is young and has his life ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Tommy!! I know what you mean about the long ceremony....my oldest graduated from Marquette University on the 9th (my bday!) & there was over 1,800 graduates!
ReplyDeleteI saw video of Tommy on your social media when he did the 6-7 and thought it was awesome! He's got such a great spirit. Congrats to him!
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartwarming story and every parents hope for their children. Congratulations Tommy on your graduation! Here's to many years of success. Elizabeth F
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your son! That definitely sounded like a very long graduation ceremony though. In our schools here, they usually divide the ceremonies into batches when there are too many graduates to make it more manageable for everyone.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your son! That definitely sounded like a very long graduation ceremony though. In our schools here, they usually divide the ceremonies into batches when there are too many graduates to make it more manageable for everyone. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your son! It's so cute that he chose McDonalds for the celebratory meal! I can just imagine!
ReplyDelete