Then, I was reminded of the sometimes peculiar nature of college life when an unusual incident occurred on Saturday around noon as I was getting ready to see a movie with a couple of friends. I literally got stuck inside my student residence accommodations (sra), and couldn't get out, until a friend came and jiggled the door handle from the outside so that it opened. The matter was soon resolved, and I quickly started to chuckle about it. Then, my friends and I went off for 42. It was an excellent film about Jackie Robinson's debut as the first African-American MLB player that I felt really spoke to the American experience, and also the human experience.
On Saturday evening, I attended a special Mass at St. Teresa’s for graduates. It was a wonderful celebration of the past four years, and the amazing faith community that had supported me throughout all that time, as well as the great Feast of Pentecost. The Mass was especially meaningful for me as it reminded me of my Confirmation over seven and a half year ago. I had been confirmed at a Saturday evening Mass, and was confirmed in faith to go forth and serve in love before God in the world. Now, I was marking the end of my college education, to which I had tied my involvement at St. Teresa’s, which itself served as a secondary Confirmation: even as I engaged in the different lifestyle of college, I would continue in the walk of faith. (So it was especially nice that my confirmation sponsor, my uncle, was present for this Mass in addition to my parents.)
And how meaningful it was at the end of Mass to receive the blessing from Father Kevin upon us graduates and then upon the graduates’ parents. (You know, there were a number of prayers and blessings throughout this weekend, and I wish I could remember the specific words used. All I remember is that I received blessings in faith from those who supported me throughout my time as a ValpU student--and certainly the gesture of extending a blessing speaks powerfully itself.)
It was also nice to have the reception afterward to continue the celebration and fellowship, over drinks and appetizers. And the Congratulations Graduates signs added a very nice touch to the party atmosphere.
That all served as a marvelous prelude to graduation day itself: I was up early in the midst of all the excitement of the anticipation of the events to come. It was a beautiful morning outside when I stepped out to go over to the weather center to check out the latest weather information on one of the computers there. And what a grand feeling I had when I put on all my regalia and then headed over to the Union to have some breakfast.
Around 9:30 or so, I got in line with other graduates in the Union first-floor west/east hallway for the Baccalaureate service, chatting with fellow graduates while waiting. I also took note of the other pieces of regalia people had on, and the variety of decorations on various caps. I had thought about doing something to decorate my cap, but I had too many different things I would have wanted to include. So I left it blank, a sign of simply being myself.
Soon enough, we were processing into the Chapel, though oddly, the line I was in entered through a side door, rather than through the narthex entrance and up the main aisle. It was a glorious service. It tied in well the occasions of graduation and Pentecost.
President Heckler gave a great message. (And he directly mentioned the meteorology majors by name, the only major to be so directly mentioned, saying we certainly knew that there was good weather on hand for this day.) He started off by remarking with such sentiments as are mentioned in both The Great Gatsby and then quoted The Tempest:“The past is the prologue” (Act 2, Scene 1). As we move on in life, the past always affects us. This sentiment certainly rings true at a time when we graduates stand at a nexus: We are at the end of our collegiate studies, and at the beginning of a future career path.
We were there, gathered in the Chapel, celebrating a place where people of diverse backgrounds have come together in the common pursuit of truth. It is the truth that calls out to higher things in life.
President Heckler tied in well the two readings: the story of the tower of Babel, and the Pentecost narrative from Acts 2. He said that these two readings offered two different visions for what we are to make of life—how to “make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4 NIV). In discussing the story of Babel, he talked about his experience being in the observation area of the world’s tallest building in Dubai, and plans for even taller buildings to be built—even one as tall as a mile high.
Then, he talked about the Pentecost narrative, remarking that the disciples were at a nexus that day. They had just finished being physically present with Jesus while He was doing His work of ministry on Earth, and they were waiting, wondering what they should now do with their lives. The answer came with a violent rush of wind and fiery tongues, which caused them to speak in foreign languages. God had given them the answer: Their new purpose was to now go forth and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all peoples of the world.
President Heckler also made a remark about the Chapel building itself. He said the builders designed it so that as one walked in, one couldn’t help but be struck in awe of the majesty of God gazing at the windows by the high altar. But upon reaching the altar, and turning around, one sees the windows along the sides of the Chapel looking out into the world, hidden from view when walking toward the altar. This view begs a person to ponder the question of what we are to make of the glory of God we have witnessed. It urges us to take the Good News of God out into the world, a glorious mission to take on as I take leave of ValpU.
Going along in the service, the choir sang a spirited rendition of the Our Father prayer in Swahili, with an Afro tune that was so catchy, I started dancing to it. The Baccalaureate service concluded as the faculty and graduates filed out of the Chapel to the hymn, “O God our Help in Ages Past”. I found that song very fitting, as that was the same song that played as I entered into the Chapel in the procession of the Opening Convocation four years ago as a freshman. And through all these years, and all ages, God is the One who truly sustains us. So it was with uplifted voice that I departed, singing that song.
Within a few minutes, I headed over to Kallay-Christopher Hall to meet my family, who had already arrived and were waiting for me. We then went to partake of the lunch reception, with little sandwiches and pastries, as well as a unique drink called "Valpo Punch"--pretty much orange juice and ginger ale. After a little bit, Dan and Ann Ruggaber showed up and joined our group as well. We all sat down at a table in the upstairs classroom, where I had had five of my meteorology classes. It was nice being together with my family for this special occasion, and to be gathered with all the other meteorology graduates and their families.
After a bit, we left the room and started taking pictures, which eventually led us outside the building. Then, I dashed back inside and gathered one last time with my fellow meteorology seniors to pose for a class picture. It was quite something to be standing there with my fellow graduates and have so many cameras flashing from all the family members gathered—kind of like paparazzi. Professor Teresa then remarked that we had worked hard, which was a wonderful affirmation of all our accomplishments in the meteorology program for the past four years. My family then took leave to head over to the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC) for the ceremony, and I gathered with my colleagues. We then departed Kallay-Christopher Hall and walked across campus to the ARC. It was already quite warm.
Upon reaching the ARC, I walked around the building and went to the Hilltop Gymnasium, where all the graduates were lining up for the procession. I obtained my name card, which had the number of the spot I was to stand in line and then headed over to the Bachelor of Science line. It was hot in the gym as we waited, but it didn’t daunt me as I don’t mind heat much. Plus, I don’t feel heat the same way after having been through the Sweat Lodge during my weeklong trip to Nebraska, which was so much hotter than any gym in the ARC would get.
A few minutes after 1 PM, we filed out of the Hilltop Gym, through some hallways in the ARC, and outside, where we waited for a couple of minutes to enter through a doorway into the ARC's large gymasium, the venue for the ceremony, with the processional pieces playing, including the traditional Pomp and Circumstance. As I walked in, I noticed my family had found good seats on the main floor in the general vicinity of where I would be sitting. And they had their cameras ready, snapping away. (I was especially glad that they had been able to find ideally located seats, as I had no knowledge of where I would be sitting until I got a copy of the program after arriving at the Hilltop Gym.)
Once we were all in place, there was the National Anthem, and then a few remarks by President Heckler, who shared three stories of students in the graduating class. Then, we were in for something absolutely amazing: the speaker, John Nunes, CEO of Lutheran World Relief. His main message is that we must value all human life, from womb to tomb. But he admitted that it can be hard to value the humanity of certain people, like Adolf Hitler, who did so much evil to humanity. Nevertheless, a core part of Christain values is to respect the humanity of all people. “Enough is enough!” he proclaimed. “People are people!” Then he said, "Women are actually fully human," which prompted a number of high-pitched exclamations of agreement from the female students in the audience, and I chimed in agreement as well. I was especially glad when he made mention of the womb, as that beautifully alludes to my strong pro-life stance. (I was thrilled to have opportunity to use the Ho-Chunk expression, “A-hoo” to express my agreement in regards to many of his points.)
Dr. Nunes then talked about how privileged we are in the United States, for there to be many people who live past the age of 50, and earn more than $38000 a year, which puts those people in the world’s wealthiest 1%. As privileged people, we have a divine obligation to meet the needs of people in the world. Dr. Nunes called upon us, the graduates, to be the generation that calls forth all people to embrace the human race in a new sense of respect. He then made reference to St. Augustine, who said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters: anger and courage.” Then, Dr. Nunes recited lines from the hymn, “God of Grace and God of Glory”, summoning us to not be held down by worldly things in taking on this mission. (As he recited those lines, I started to lip-sing them.)
Then, it was time for the conferring of the degrees. Before this, students graduating with honors were recognized. I stood up with all the other Cum Laude honorees. And, I delightedly stood up with all my fellow Christ College seniors receiving those honors from the Honors College. (Interesting, I am the only member of the Valparaiso University Class of 2013 who graduated with a major in meteorology and a Christ College honorary designation.)
The conferring of degrees was a drawn-out process, starting with the Doctorate of Nursing Practice candidates, progressing through all the graduate candidates, and then all the undergraduate students, going through each college. The anticipation started to build for my special moment, even as I witnessed the special moment of hearing each of my fellow graduates as their names were called out one by one. I focused on not being too eager as I waited my turn, celebrating the other graduates, too.
Then, at approximately 2:45 PM CDT, the marshal, who happened to be my Calculus 3 professor, Dr. Pudwell, summoned my row to stand up and walk to the ramp to go up the stage. I strode up the ramp, stopped halfway to pose for a picture, and then walked up the rest of the ramp to the stage, where I handed my card to be read by Dean Nancy Scannell. (I thought of the profound-sounding music of “Sundowner Blanck Mass” from the Isles of Wonder soundtrack playing as I walked up to the stage. Check it out, if you like, at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5-HXY4QFOI)
Then, she read my name, and I walked across the stage to take my diploma from President Heckler and shake his hand and kindly acknowledge him. Then I walked to Dr. Kilpinen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to shake his hand and acknowledge him. There were so many profound things I could have thought, namely praise to God, and other gestures I could have made in that moment—but, alas, I was so focused on going through the formalities of stepping off at the right time and the handshakes, I didn’t do any of that. But after shaking Dean Kilpinen’s hand, my first thought was to look toward where my family was seated and wave to them. I kept waving to them as I walked down the ramp on the other side of the stage.
Then, as I was about halfway toward the end of the ramp, one of my fellow graduates motioned for me to turn around behind me. Dean Piehl was seated near the edge of the stage by the ramp, and wanted to shake my hand. We shook hands and had a very brief exchange, so that I could get back to my right place and back to my seat. As I walked back to the end of the row where I was seated, I kept waving to my family, and, at one point, I even held up my diploma case and waved it as a sign of my accomplishment. (When I sat down, I opened it up, and saw it was blank inside, save for the image of the Chapel on the left side, remembering that I would have to get the piece of paper with my name on it later.)
The rest of the undergraduate candidates went up, and 40 minutes after my turn, the last of the nursing graduates walked across the stage. President Heckler then declared, “You made it.” And of all us graduates cheered. We had made it—after four years of work and then some, we had finally reached the point of achieveing our academic degrees, not to mention the lengthy process of having all the names read. We then rose, and President Heckler gave us a charge, to go out and do good things in the world, having been supported by Valparaiso University, and to do good in return for ValpU.
Then, President Heckler, in accordance with the time-honored tradition, instructed us to move our tassels to the left side of our caps. We all reached for our tassels, and moved them over, thereby becoming the newest batch of Valparaiso University alumni. It was an incredible feeling to mark my new status at that moment, at about 3:25 PM CDT, or 2025Z as we meteorologists would put it. My mind turned to that scene from the end of Amazing Grace when William Wilberforce rises up in the House Chamber in Parliament, as everyone in the room is applauding him, and he looks upward at his wife, breathing deliberately as he takes in the moment. I, too, looked up, Heavenward toward God as I took stock of what I had just accomplished.
Pastor James Wetzstein then pronounced the benediction, using the ancient words of blessing from Numbers: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV). After singing the “Alma Mater”hymn, we all filed out of the ARC to the Triumphal March. I waved to Professors Teresa and Goebbert, and then focused on my family as I exited, making a point to slow down a bit so they could get pictures of me as I walked past. I walked out the entrance I came in, and then waited there to go back in and meet with my family, since they were seated so close by. I congratulated friends I saw as they walked out. Once the recessional was over, and I went back in to meet with my family members for the first time as a ValpU alumnus. I hugged each person, one at a time, save for those who left after I walked across the stage for a cooler environment. We headed outside and got a few pictures, and then made our way to the Union, where I was to get the diploma sheet with my name on it, chatting with people in my party and other colleagues along the way. I thought that maybe the line to pick-up the diplomas would be too long and would want to get it later, but upon getting to the Ballrooms, there was hardly any wait. I walked up to the table with the R’s, presented my ID, and then got the paper. I remarked how easy that was—obtaining the sheet of paper, not the actual work of getting the degree.
I then met up with my party again, and we then made our way over to Wehrenberg Hall, where I got the rest of my trappings packed up, and my sra in position for departure, stopping for pictures along the way to Wehrenberg.
Within an hour or so, we were all over at La Cabaña restaurant for dinner. It was a nice Mexican-style restaurant that served some pretty good food. (There, I opened up the Ruggabers’ gift, the only gift I opened in the presence of my party.) It was a wonderful time, extending our gathering together in the celebration at hand. I thanked everyone for coming, and sweating it out, to mark the accomplishment of what I surely knew was the most rich, extraordinary time of my life.
And then, it was time to head home. I bid farewell to the Ruggabers, which, honestly, was the closest I came to crying the whole day. The feelings I sensed inside of me reflected the closeness of the relationship we had built up with them over the past four years, and it was wistful to bid farewell to seeing them regularly. But at the same time, I knew that the closeness of our relationship would keep us bound and bring us back together again.
I got into Grandma Vel’s car with Dad and Grandma, the same car I used for the test to get my driver’s license about three year ago. We headed east on Lincolnway, toward Indiana State Route 49. This route took us right beyond the northern edge of campus. It was my final look at the place that served as the vessel for an incredible four years. In some ways, it would have been nice to have taken the time to stop and really soak it in one last time. Yet, I had spent the past four years preparing for this moment, embracing the experience of being there, engaging with it in many meaningful ways. And so I felt comfortably inclined to bid it farewell at that moment.
What a day it had been. There was so much to take in from everything that happened. One profound idea that surfaces to the top of everything was that of this occasion being a nexus. On this day, I stood at the nexus of the achievement of my college education of the past four years, and the possibilities of the years ahead. I really like the term nexus to describe this occasion, much more than graduation or commencement because both of those words really only capture part of the meaning of this occasion. Nexus captures the sense of this occasion simultaneously marking the end of something, and the start of something new.
Past and present weren’t the only things that came together that day. My school colleagues and family came together as well. It’s interesting to note that my family wasn’t physically present with me during my educational experience, but they were supporting me throughout that time in their own vicarious way, and were present for this special occasion, along with the families of all my other colleagues, with whom I had spent so much time in our shared studies and the common pursuit of higher things. It was especially notable to have the Ruggabers there, as they were an important part of my life during the previous four years, just as much as all the others from my family who came for the day’s festivities. I’m sure it was special for them, too, to have seen me through college, all the way through the graduation ceremony, after having seen their own sons through.
It was a special day for me, as I got to mark my achievement, made in a path I had blazed out for myself. Four years ago, I had decided to attend Valparaiso University and to pursue a course of study in meteorology, as well as in Spanish and Christ College. While there were people who helped guide me in making these decisions, and supported me in pursuit of these programs of study, I was the one who really took charge in them. I was free to pursue my passions and interests, engaging four years with them, and was able to really shine as my own person as I did so. (I even bucked the trend of my family's steady migration into the western suburbs of Chicagoland by heading southeastward to Valparaiso, IN.)
One person in my family, in regards to the taking of the class picture of all the meteorology graduates, remarked that he didn’t know enough about meteorology majors to make some kind of a joke or witty statement. And my Dad mentioned that Professor Teresa had said I had really stood out as my own person. Those statements really added to the meaningfulness of the celebration at hand. I was able to celebrate my accomplishments within small groups of people who had accomplished the same studies, sharing the same insiders’ experience of them. And I made these accomplishments as a reflection of my own person. This sense of being my own person was reflected in all the regalia I wore for the occasion, and how grand it was to go out and celebrate what I had accomplished with accessories that reflected who I am.
As special as this occasion was for me, it wasn’t all about me. I was marking this achievement together with a group of 700 graduates. How great it was to be able to celebrate this same grand occasion with hundreds of others, many of whom I shared close experiences with in the previous four years. And my family could mark what I had just accomplished, especially my parents, who had seen me through all my life experiences, and through college, supporting me with love and finances.
In the months before graduation, I took note of the fact that graduation would fall on the same day as Pentecost Sunday, and I regarded it as a very apt conincidence. The Apostles spent about three years with Jesus as He went about doing His work of ministry. After His death and Resurrection, Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days. Through all this time, Jesus laid the foundation of a new ministry, which would become their mission. Then, He ascended to Heaven, and, after waiting 10 days, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, fulfilling the promises of God in them, equipping them with all they needed to go forth and carry on His mission on Earth as their mission. After spending four years at Valparaiso University getting an educational experience, not to mention all the education I received in all the years beforehand, I was sent forth in the midst of this grand occasion into the world to do the good work of using the skills with which I had been equipped to engage in meaningful service for others.
Though Jesus was no longer physically present with the disciples after His Ascension, He remained present with them in a more mysterious, but deeper way, through the Holy Spirit, as Jesus describes so powerfully in the Last Supper Discourse in John. And though I am no longer going to be physically present on the ValpU campus day after day as a student, my relationship with ValpU continues, in a different way: The experiences I had there on campus (and others that happened off-campus but were nonetheless tied in with campus community), with fellow graduates, and other students, undeniably bind me to the Valparaiso University campus and community. I go forth, continuing to engage in relationships I built with people there, and continuing to support the university and its mission, bringing back to it what I gain from my experiences in the years ahead, as well as promoting its name by doing good work in the broader world. And I carry forth with me into that world all the memories I have of experiences on the plains of Valparaiso, as I like to poetically refer to ValpU.
I brought these memories, and an extraordinary, rich experience, back with me when I arrived home after the 1-hour-plus drive to Oak Park. In addition to getting my trappings into the house, and bidding farewell to all my family that had come and were continuing on to get back to their homes, I made some ceremonial gestures, reflecting what I did four years ago when I left my home to go to ValpU. I kissed the ground in front of the house as a sign of reverence for the place I had called home since 20 months old, commending it to God’s care as I went forth to start my ValpU education. And upon arriving back home, I kissed the ground again, as a sign of reverence, marking my final return home from ValpU.
I also made a few remarks. Before leaving as a freshman, I made a short farewell speech on the front porch in the spirit of the wistful speech Abraham Lincoln made on February 11, 1861, before departing Springfield, his home for about 25 years, to assume the presidency in Washington, DC. But President Lincoln never got to return home to Springfield and make a speech to a crowd gathered to welcome him back. At this moment, I wondered what kind of speech he would have made had he had the opportunity to do so. I made a few remarks in the spirit of what such a speech would have been like. I didn’t get the chance to express myself fully in that moment of arriving home, but here is what I would have said:
I come home now to this beloved place where I grew up. I bring with me new knowledge and skills under my belt that I gained over the course of four years, as well as an extraordinary, rich experience that manifested itself over those four years at Valparaiso University. All this has truly changed me as a person, in big ways that I couldn’t have envisioned four years ago. Throughout all that time, I never forgot about this place, fully aware of how much it shaped the person I was when I first departed for college. I constantly kept aware of this place and everything it represents as I went forth to engage in bigger and greater things. Now, finally having completed the work I set out to do, I enjoy the rich reward of being welcomed back home, to this place, from which I have always received support. And at this time, for the experience I bring back to this place, and for this place itself, I give glory, praise, and thanks to God.
Indeed, as great as the ValpU experience was, it was so good to come home, knowing I was finally done with going back and forth. And how good it was to read a note Dad had given me in which he welcomed me back home. While ValpU functioned like a home during the time I was there, this place in Oak Park had always been home for me in the truest sense. What a delight it was to return, carrying with me everything I gained during my ValpU experience, which I am sure to always regard as the most rich, extraordinary experience of my life.
I salute the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of America.
Paul
BS, Valparaiso University, 2013
In the center of this photo, you can see me looking toward the camera, holding up my diploma case, having just walked across the stage. Photo courtesy of my Dad, Ed. Rubio.
Please note: I intended to have this blog post published much sooner after graduation, but certain logistics delayed its posting until June.
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