<p>If it's the official video, that videographer will have the best unobstructed view.</p>
<p>Payingthreetuitions....I even love the followup posts you have written! I really understand what you mean about the school fit. It is a shame about high school for your D but what a great contrast that she found her "place" and her "people" at Oberlin. Our high school was just fair. The kids made due. I am sure my younger one would have thrived at some performing arts high school (but that would mean boarding school as there are none in our state) and my older one likely would have thrived and enjoyed some boarding prep school, rather than our rural public school but they made the most of the school here and we would never have sent them to boarding school. </p>
<p>BUT...(there is always a BUT!), now that each child is at college, and they surely picked their own colleges, the fit is terrific and we could not be any happier that each one loves her college so so so so much. What more could a parent want? They had to go through the other experience to get to this experience but when the fit is perfect, it is really wonderful. I am sure when your D leaped across that stage, you had to be so happy that SHE was so happy at her school, particularly after her HS experience.</p>
<p>Reminded me of my own medical school graduation eons ago- my favorite picture was shot by my sister or her husband from the balcony seats- they caught a distant "over the shoulder view " with a good camera showing the writing on the opened diploma as I looked at it while seated!</p>
<p>So sad, so happy, so meaningful, so emotional. My S graduated from his small LAC on May 20 and I was moved in a way that surprised even me. (Yes, I cry at Coke commericals.) As far as I was concerned, I was all caught up in the logistics -- the hotel reservation, where we'll meet him, is the younger S getting there in time, which cars should we take -- and then to realize the ceremony was simply to celebrate the many accomplishments and rite of passage of all those wonderful young men and women. And now on to the next chapter . . . . </p>
<p>And in two weeks, younger son graduates HS and, while not as big a deal, I now know I'll cry there too. (If I can see anything; it's in the athletic field house. Boo.)</p>
<p>After sitting through several ceremonies recently at our kids' schools, and some not terribly fruitful attempts at catching 'just the right moment' on film... I've decided not to do this for S's HS graduation at the end of the month. I'm tired of realizing the camera is on the wrong setting, trying to find them in the viewfinder, zooming, whatever. I'm going to enjoy the moment, listen, and watch him march up and get the diploma with my own eyes. Will save the picture-taking for afterwards.</p>
<p>Realize that some of you have posted memorable words about graduations here. Saving these words, with the emotional experience close at hand is another way to keep the memory alive, sans photos. </p>
<p>Paying....what an inspirational story about what the right college can do for a young person. May she find such joy elsewhere in life!</p>
<p>We just got back a couple of hours ago from our daughters graduation weekend. Between a parents gratitude session (Christian College), Baccalaurete, and the actual graduation I was feeling very emotional but did NOT cry during the graduation. The most touching event was the parents gratitude session, held while the students were doing a mandatory rehearsal. Parent after parent stood up and talked about how their child had matured spiritually, morally and academically and how blessed they were with the offerings of the college. Most of the students do an abroad at my daughters school and it has a fairly high percentage of international students so many parents also spoke of how much more world aware their students had become. Some parents talked about how their child had been a so-so student in high school but just blossomed in college. My husband had to speak for us because my throat and eyes were getting all funny just thinking about all the wonderful things to say.</p>
<p>They had a professional photographer for the graduation and my daughter told me that each grad will get two free pictures. Our daughter graduated with highest honors and had the largest smile I've ever seen (I think we did too!) as she crossed the stage. The speaker was a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and she was touching and funny - a great combination.</p>
<p>After graduation there was cookies and beverages on the chapel lawn with lots of opportunities for pictures.</p>
<p>My husband graduated from West Virginia University and we talked about how much more moving and meaningful our daughters ceremony was. Ah, well, three more years until the next one!</p>