Graduation

Rocky Vista had a beautiful graduation ceremony. I left there feeling like all doctors should be required to go to a graduation every five years or so. I think it would be a breath of fresh air, a reminder of why they chose their profession, and a really great reminder to be charitable to their patients. I mean, who doesn't need extra motivation in their careers from time to time?

The valedictorian reminded the class to never let their heads get too big just because they're "the doctor" by sharing a hard but meaningful personal story about a relative who passed away. Never think you are above error kind of a thing. 

Dean Told talked about a doctor's moral compass and how each of them would need to re-evaluate their course from time to time in the medical world. Are they honest? Are they compassionate? That kind of thing.

After everyone received their diplomas, all of the military students were commissioned as well. That part was really neat. Air Power! ;-)

But I have to say my favorite part of graduation came a few months prior when Jayce asked me to be his guest hooder. Each graduate is "hooded" on stage when their name is called during the grad ceremony. It's part of their graduate clothing. A member of the faculty does most of the hoodings, except for students who invite someone to be their guest hooder. Normally having a doctorate is a requirement for someone to be chosen as someone's guest hooder, but for the first time ever RVU opened up the guest hooding option to be anyone the students wanted. 

It was such a little thing, but Jayce asking me was really moving for me. He's never done anything to make me feel beneath him, but sometimes it just feels good to be reminded of my value to him. Knowing that he wanted me up on that stage with him because he sees me as his equal and that we walk through life hand in hand, not one in front of the other was just a sweet moment in our marriage.

So, after debating over how to make it work with the kids, we decided to make it happen. I owe that sweet experience to my friend Nicole for taking great care of Jack and Ben for half her Saturday and to my angel in-laws for taking care of Cameron and Spencer at the Opera House so that I could sit where I needed to during the ceremony.

Backstage right before he became Dr. Porter.

  

The guest hoodings also made the whole ceremony more fun. It was so cute to see people's siblings, grandparents, parents, etc. show up to hood their student doctors. I sat between a fiance and a mother. It was great. Plus, there were a lot of entertaining hoodings. Another really sweet moment during the hoodings was when all of the students stood up for a fellow student who fought through breast cancer during medical school. So touching.

The commissioning:

Lane was actually one of Jayce's neighbors growing up. Who would have thought they'd complete medical school together in 2016? And he has one of the sweetest dads around.