Career & Graduation Guide Graduation ... What's the big deal? j Graduation is great; Ceremony isn't as much fun as fifth grade Graduation. The b*g day is coming last, yet I find myself growing tired of it already. I can't seem to get excited about the pomp and circum stance of being thrust into the real world. Perhaps that's because I’m going to law school in August, putting off the real world for another three years. I remember when graduation used to be exciting. VVI1C7I1 I yiduucuou umii mui auc into middle school, we had a big picnic, our first "dance," lots ol balloons and cake and general ly lelt like we were moving up in the food chain. When I graduated from middle school, my class had the privilege of being the first to go through all three years at our sptffy. new, three-year-old middle school. I don't recall getting any presents then. I do recall working feverishly, in my best "special occasion" clothes, to finish varnishing my woodshop protect. It was a little box-ltke thing that opened on top. My dad still uses it to store old bills and junk mail My legacy I also remember someone in the band dropped a tuba during the ceremony And then, it was off to high school. Four years later, along with 500 people whom I nev i r\ i i t* U' ' i i and similarly clad in blue- anc gold-gowned attire, I walker across the stage, received mj empty diploma cover and won dered where the family wa going for dinner Actually, it was almost the graduation that wasn't That yea our principal decided to move the graduation ceremony frorr Portland's austere Civic Audito rium to the cavernous echo palace that is the University o Portland's Chiles Center The senior class, in a momen of 90210-like unity, made it quite clear that no one would bt attending a ceremony at th« utfi i (n d«iKj the Civic was booked solid. We said tough He moved the ceremony back to the Civic Power to the people. I got a guitar for graduation It was an Ibanez elec tric/acoustic and a little amp that my parents proba bly later regretted having purchased But I was free, released from the bondage of 12 years of indentured servitude to the state and was the master of my own destiny. I was going to turn my amp to 10 and there was nothing anybody was going to do to stop me. You can't kill rock 'n* roll. Community college The minor leagues I suppose a l 96 GPA will do that to you But I had applied to Oregon State. How picky could they be? Picky enough. So. having sunk below even OSU's admit tance standards, I crept ott to do my time at a two year power house, Mt Hood Community College The following year I transferred to OSU, (helplul hint it you blow off high school, do a year at a com munity college, get a 2 0 and transfer). As a Beaver. I learned a lot about socializing I experienced a diver sity of alcohols. I watched Gary Payton get thrown out ot my dorm lor being a tad loud at three in the morning. I needed my then girttnend. now wife, to call around and find out where my finals were The following year I was back at MHCC Go fig ure. Three years and as many maprs later (mclud mg two years m the Navy), I graduated with a General Studies degree I chose not to attend the graduation ceremony — how could I be excited at having taken six years to graduate from community college? Looking back, I see that may have been my mis take Because I missed that graduation. I'm being forced to attend this one. My wife, parents, etc are demanding I walk across a stage, while wearing a gown nearly a foot short, to receive another empty degree cover For the last month I've been fielding inquiries as lo what I want for graduation What does anybody want? Money. However, that doesn't seem to wash with the relatives. Everybody wants to make their gift personal How about a mutual fund in my name? Actually, I'll be surprised if I get much of anything I never sent my thank you notes after high school graduation or after my wedding. I'm a selfish, unthinking boob But that hasn't stopped me from sending out the requisite invitations and plotting the burden of ignoring me and my moment of glory on others. But material possessions are not what graduating is all about It's about maturing, becoming an adult (if you aren't already — but hey, aren't we all really kids inside?) and entering the work force (a k a the unemployment line) Well, one out of three ain't bad (if you're playing baseball). I have managed to weasel out of attending the Aut/en Stadium ceremony. I convinced people that it ia/;« too tar tn walk from Allen i / remember w hen gradua tion used to be exciting. When I graduated from fifth grade into middle school, w e had a big pic nic, our first ''dance,” lots of balloons and cake and generally felt like we were moving up in the food chain. Hall to the glorified dirt pile and that we would do better to go straight to brunch Saved by the bullet My little brother, lour years younger than I, graduated from college last month Talk about a blow I’ll regain the lead, how ever, graduating from law school before he graduates from med ical school But he took the straight route, right out ol high school and has his B $ at 21 I'll have my B A live days before turning 26 and my law degree shortly before 29 Will I be excited then? Who knows I can’t really say I’m look ing forward to more than $30,000 of indebtedness And besides, the real world Inghtens me I'm alraid of change — change is bad Perhaps I've simply grown callous in my waning years The magic and mystery of life has passed me by. leaving a strewn pile of notebooks from classes I don't remember having taken Shortly, we will find out whether we learned any thing from any of those classes I know college grad uates who cant find the Pacific Ocean on a map (no joke), or who can't spell to save their lives Yet, they walked across a stage, received an empty degree cover and went to lunch Seems they never quite came back Wouldn't it have been easier to simply write a check for $12,OCX), received a piece of paper and been our way? Would we be any better/worse off than we are now? Could anybody in the real world tell the difference? Probably not. So, as the big day approaches and we all put on our black gowns, black hats and colorful tassels, keep this in mind: Your loans come due in six months. Happy graduation Murtin Usher PROTECTED STORAGE CO. Embarking on a new life... U-Haul makes moving easier! Free storage on one way rentals U-HAUL Dealer Trucks, trailers. & hitches. 747-4573 361 Shelly St. Springfield. OR Deliver a KNOCKOUT... • • ‘without throwing a punchl GOLDWORKS )3lh ft lawraoca tug«oa»»»343-?398^ 726-6969 OPEN 24 HOURS Cltai5a*. im H lOm Mm. Uuulm 1166 S. A St., Springfield Sail Ucjty mmd mJ fvjW jmrnmmytm TREK usa SAWl f*G on wled art* it tie* Met. cwi» y ndeir» best lot leu ?f«*> So ttop n We I 'jet you on !h© tyro trte o* me tyro pnr.e fight now And if you preient if« ad to yew porfletiatmy Wen Oeotef it©* test, you l tec ©wait©* water boflto » te* JIW1 !<# it (orpofl** Wtfritt «f S3Sf4 CYCLE SHOP L 60 t. 11th Avt*. Eugene, OR • (50 0 (42-4878 J