DEBORAH CORRAO / L’Observateur / December 11, 1999

Something wonderful is happening at our house this month – and, no, it has nothing to do with Christmas.

My firstborn is graduating from college, and we’re all so proud that he’s afraid we’re going to embarrass him at graduation. At first he told us he wasn’t goingto attend the ceremonies, but I’m still his mother so I made him do it.

Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s easy to get a college degree. Sure, it’s easierfor some than for others, but it takes a whole lot of skills that have to do with responsibility and maturity and persistence rather than intelligence.

The funny thing about it is that this child was the one who didn’t seem too interested in pursuing a degree during high school. And he made a few roughstarts before he got on the right track.

It will all pay off, though, today when he marches onto the stage to receive his diploma. I’m sure there will be a lot of happiness and tears. He’s threatened todisown us all if we clap or yell, but I told him we’d just have to play it by ear and go with the flow. If everyone else is yelling, I’m going to be there rightalong with them.

Of course my big boy is a little unsure how to handle this mother who wants to hug him and tell him how proud she is, but he bears with me once in a while. Hewon’t admit it, but I know he’s proud of himself deep down inside.

So, Saturday morning he’ll have his own gallery of fans and well-wishers clapping and cheering with the best of them because his diploma doesn’t just say something about him, it says something about all the rest of the people who have helped him along the way. We will cheer for those who have given himfinancial and emotional support, his family and friends, old and young alike.

It’s a rite of passage for all of us and we plan to enjoy it.

Congratulations, Jeremy!

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