Wednesday, May 24, 2017

The Graduate - Our Graduate

In the 1967 movie, "The Graduate," Mr. Maguire pulls young, Benjamin Braddock aside and the following dialogue takes place:
Mr. Maguire: There is a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it? 
          Benjamin Braddock: Yes, I will.

To be honest, if Benjamin Braddock took his advice, he probably was met with great economic success as plastics took off.

We have our own recent graduate, our middle son, Russ, who recently graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge with a B.S. in Agriculture.  He won't be going into the field of plastics, but we pray he finds success in his field of Plant and Soil Systems with a concentration in Environmental Horticulture.

We met for his graduation on a rainy Friday morning at 11 a.m. in the Field House for the ceremony.


We took our seats in the crowded field house where indoor track is run among a crowd of proud parents and family members.  They marched in to Pomp & Circumstance and many had their mortar boards decorated.


When I graduated from LSU in December of 1988, the person who gave the keynote address was Senator John Breaux.  It was in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and poor Senator Breaux had difficulty getting through his speech as he was dodging champagne corks.  Things have changed since then.  Not one champagne cork went off during Russ' ceremony.  One other change was that the graduates all got their names called and got to walk across the stage and received their diplomas.


When it was over and before we went out to eat, we took a family photo with Russ in front of a blooming magnolia tree.


My Dad, Mom, and brother were also there to celebrate Russ' big day.


Here is Russ with my brother and parents in front of some stately oaks.  In the background, you can see the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse and pool.  The pool is now in disrepair, but I took a swimming class in college (we had to take a PE class) there. If you saw the movie, Pitch Perfect, one of the singing competitions was in the Huey P. Long pool.  It was empty, of course.


To commemorate the happy occasion, we got a nice Commencement program that had all the graduates names in it.  While sitting down and thumbing through the book, we were very surprised!


Russ hadn't told us about something very important.  Okay, I apologize in advance for boasting about my son, but we were in shock to see on page 5 that Russ graduated Summa Cum Laude.  He was the only male to do so.  In fact, 75% of the graduates in the College of Agriculture were female.


Russ will be starting his career in June, working for Doug Young Nursery in Forest Hill, Louisiana. I told him that if he can find something to do that he is passionate about, he'll never work a day in his life as it will be a labor of love.  We are proud of the old fellow and wish him the absolute best that life has to offer.  He will do great things, I am sure of it.  May God Bless our graduate!

LSU ALMA MATER 


Where stately oaks and broad magnolias 
shade inspiring halls, 
There stands our dear Old Alma Mater 
who to us recalls 
Fond memories that waken in our hearts 
a tender glow, 
And make us happy for the love 
that we have learned to know. 

All hail to thee our Alma Mater, 
molder of mankind, 
May greater glory, love unending 
be forever thine. 
Our worth in life will be thy worth we pray to keep it true, 
And may thy spirit live in us, forever L-S-U. 

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