Twenty two years ago, the Friday before Mother’s Day, my son came home from a 5 week stay in the hospital, 4 pounds 5 ounces, 16 inches long. Last weekend he graduated, with honors, from Newhouse School of Communications and the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. I am so proud of him!
All of the family (except my niece and her husband who are expecting a baby in a month) were there. I’m so happy everyone could attend, especially my parents, since it’s getting hard for them to travel. And my daughter, who had just moved to Chicago a week before, was there. (I am also so proud of her!). This is the first Mother’s Day in at least 4 years that I have had both my children with me.
My daughter and I both graduated from small schools, so Syracuse University, at 15,000 undergraduates, was foreign to me. I knew my son was getting a great education in journalism, but I didn’t know what to expect from the rest of his education. At Newhouse graduation on Saturday I heard from the Dean and the speaker, Lakshmi Singh (NPR), about truth and integrity in journalism and the importance of a free press for our democracy. On Sunday, at the whole University graduation I heard from civil rights leader Vernon Jordan about how Syracuse University has a history of giving opportunities to the oppressed, how love will win over hate and fear. After his speech I saw the whole student body immediately rise and give him a standing ovation – I was so happy this was the school my son had chosen.
I think my favorite part of the weekend was when my son took me to the Daily Orange, the newspaper he has worked at for the last almost 4 years. This is where he put his heart and soul, and these are the people he is closest to. This was the first time I saw where he worked. It was special to share this time with him, and something I will never forget.
To view my work, go to Portraits by Anne-Marie.