Now She's Done It ...

The Graduate

I'll apologize now, this is a long photo heavy post, but I think it's worth it!
She's graduated from college, my girl Morgan has finally finished. Four years ago we dropped her off at her new dorm on the campus of Keene State College and began the 2-1/2 hour drive home. There were no tears when we left, she insisted she was fine and everything was going to be great, so I tucked my fears away and assumed she was OK. Upon arrival home there were messages on the answering machine, there were tears, she didn't have anyone to go to dinner with because she didn't know anyone, and she wasn't going alone. She wanted to come home, maybe this wasn't right for her after all. It was hard for a mom to listen and not want to drive right back up there to New Hampshire and take her back home with me, but I didn't. I told her she had to give it time, and that plenty of kids were feeling the very same way she was. Eventually, the fears diminished, the tears went away and she started classes, made friends and settled in to college life. Ahhh ... and her mother breathed in a big sigh of relief. Now I won't lie and tell you the road was always smooth, and that there weren't more tears and fears throughout, but she did what she set out to do, she studied hard and she finished the music education program on time, which is quite a feat from what I've learned over the years. Here are some photos from the day, not in any order mind you, but the whole day was a sort of jumbled mess anyway. Good weather turned bad and they rushed through the ceremony, the crowd was uncontrollable for security, there weren't enough seats and the threat of rain, lightning strikes, and high winds were predicted, but rain or shine the show must go on and it did.

Helen Giles Gee, President of Keene State College

Morgan and Colin IsottiColin played a duet with Morgan at her Senior Recital.Morgan and Colin met at their Freshman orientation and continued a friendship throughout the 4 years they attended KSC.

L to R: Brian Smith, Tania Smith & Debbie Ouellette Proud parents with our girl the day after her graduation.

Most kids go home after they graduate, not Morgan. Graduation night for Morgan was spent directing the Keene Highschool Jazz Band at a festival they were having. She had been student teaching there, and made a commitment to attend and be a part of this concert. We were so proud to sit in the audience and watch her do what she has been trained to do for the last 4 years, conduct and inspire.

The skies opened up during graduation and it rained, no wait ... it poured and we all got drenched.It didn't kill our spirits though, we'd have sat through a blizzard without a coat for this event.

Morgan with George Weithman

Morgan met George during her orientation at KSC, they were both in the music education department. The class of music ed students started off fairly large and by the time graduation rolled around very few of them were a part of the program any longer for many reasons. It was so nice for them to be able to share their final year of student teaching and graduation, knowing that they had stuck it out and finished what they started out to do.

I'm a bit sad to see it all end for her, but I know that all endings are really just new beginnings for something new in our lives. I look forward to watching my girl make her way in life. I'm sure it will be full of good things and happy moments.

Happy Graduation to the best daughter a mom could ever have.

I always knew you'd make me proud.

Love you always ... Mom!

L to R: Ariel Cohen, Tim Price, Colleen Durkin & Morgan Cyr. These 4 started off together in Freshman year and ended together 5/7/11.