Just graduated from Michigan.. again

Submitted by notetoself on December 19th, 2021 at 7:52 PM

I just attended commencement for my master's in engineering at Crisler. I was a little unsure if I wanted to go, as my last commencement was in 2002 and I kind of view it as a thing for the kids, but I'm really glad I went. The winter commencement in Crisler is just as legit as the big house one, but smaller and more intimate. 

Ironically, while working full time and parenting 3 kids, being a student afforded me less time to invest in following UM sports. I suppose now that I'm done, I might allow myself to take in a few revenue sports. Either way, go blue!

Anyone else finish up a degree?

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1989 UM GRAD

December 19th, 2021 at 8:35 PM ^

The orthodontist we use has a Harvard dental degree…after doing undergrad at Michigan.  I couldn’t stop myself from asking her if she went to Harvard because she didn’t get in to the Michigan School of Dentistry. Yes I’m hilarious. 

Joined: 03/08/2012

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Durham Blue

December 19th, 2021 at 10:45 PM ^

I was one of those.  I was engineering at Michigan then became interested in a dental career.  Long story short I did not end up doing dentistry and I am an engineer today.  But I applied to Harvard, UCSF and Michigan.  UCSF was the #1 school at the time.  Harvard was top 3.  I got in to both UCSF and Harvard but was rejected from Michigan.  Go figure...

Joined: 10/09/2008

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oriental andrew

December 20th, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^

Congrats! 

I graduated UM in 99 and completed my MBA at DePaul in Chicago in 2010. My kids were 5 and 3 by then, so I'm pretty confident neither of them really remember the graduation ceremony. 

I completely understand the challenges of going to school part time, raising a family, and still having a full-time job, so kudos to you and your wife for keeping things together! It's no small accomplishment! 

Maybe a bit ironic that you scaled back UM sports while pursuing a UM degree, but certainly not when it comes to the question of how you will allocate your time. 

For background, I did a weekend MBA program, worked full-time as a consultant, traveled 50% of the time, had 2 kids (youngest was 9 months old when I started my program), and my wife also worked as a nurse at the local pediatric hospital FT. Our schedule was my class every other Saturday 8am-5pm, and my wife worked Sat-Sun on the weekends I didn't have class. Basically, we didn't see each other on most Saturdays for about 2 years. I was also out of town 2-3 days about every other week (sometimes more, sometimes less). That was a brutal time in our lives, but also something I really wanted to do and she helped make it work. 

Glad you were able to go out and celebrate this achievement with your family. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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UMForLife

December 19th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^

I did mine a while ago and I was way older than you were. I chickened out from attending it because I felt old. I have been kicking myself ever since. So, hats off to you for doing it and Congratulations.

 

Joined: 11/04/2013

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True Blue Grit

December 19th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^

Many congratulations!  I applaud your dedication and hard work getting that degree with all your other demands.  I finished my grad degeee back in the mid 80's, but it must feel great to be done finally.  Enjoy.

Joined: 01/21/2011

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lmgoblue1

December 19th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^

Congratulations!  I didn't graduate this weekend, but I drove by Hill Auditorium today, and told my wife, "This is where my graduation ceremony was in summer of 1981 and I got to walk across the stage and get my diploma handed to me".  Still a thrill.  Was in town last night for the MBB game, back in Fort Wayne now.  Going back to Ann Arbor never gets boring and memories never fade.

Again, congratulations on your Masters. Go Blue!

Joined: 10/27/2012

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XM - Mt 1822

December 19th, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^

God bless you, particularly with the adoption and the foster child, and i'm not kidding.  i have a brother in law that took 12 years of night school to get his engineering degree with 3 kids.  he did great with the degree, but man, that had to be so much work.  and i'm sure your masters was big time work, too.  again, kudos. 

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Toasted Yosties

December 19th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^

Ironically, while working full time and parenting 3 kids, being a student afforded me less time to invest in following UM sports. I suppose now that I'm done, I might allow myself to take in a few revenue sports.

You’re going to lose your mind when you see how the football team did this year. 

Joined: 06/05/2013

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scanner blue

December 19th, 2021 at 8:43 PM ^

I was there too...working (my years as a student ended under Steve Smith). Other names of note in the program - Gemon and German Green, Vincent Gray, Micheal Barrett, Jr., Dakota Raabe (hockey) and one Aidan Hutchinson.  Of course congrats, and welcome to the best alumni group in the world (again)!

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BlueMan80

December 19th, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^

Congratulations!

I got my MBA years ago by taking 13 classes over 13 consecutive quarters while my son was born, I got promoted into management and traveled on business at least 2 days a week.  There was no way I was going to miss commencement after all that.  I admire anyone that can get any degree while working full time and dealing with family.  Creates a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

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UNCWolverine

December 19th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^

Congrats.

I graduated from Michigan with an ME degree in spring 1998. While our main ceremony was at the Big House (I honestly don't remember if I was even there), our engineering school ceremony was at Crisler, even in the spring. I believe Ken Burns was the speaker of that one or maybe a semester/year later. 

After reading the paragraph above I'm now slightly concerned about my memory skills.

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Tokyo Blue

December 20th, 2021 at 1:03 AM ^

I graduated in 1984 and was at the ceremony too.

In the program they handed out there was a introduction and bio of Walter Cronkite. The announcer read it verbatim when Cronkite was introduced and he muffed up a couple of things. The students razzed the announcer. Do you remember that? 

After the ceremony one of my friends and I got a photo taken with Cronkite and UM President Harold Shapiro. Cronkite was gracious but Shapiro seemed put off that we asked him. 

The following year my sister graduated and Lee Iacocca was the speaker. Not sure if I misspelled Iacocca.

Cheers

Congratulations notetoself

 

Joined: 12/12/2012

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M-Dog

December 20th, 2021 at 9:12 AM ^

The students razzed the announcer. Do you remember that? 

Oh, yeah I remember that.  He called him Walter "Conkrite".  The students went off.  The guy said "Sorry, it's been a long year for me too."  

The students were in a generally hostile mood that year because they were fighting with the university Admin over the "Code" (which was a University administered standard of behavior outside the normal legal system). 

The students didn't want it, only the regular legal system.  The admin wanted it for things that are typical at a university that fall between the cracks of the actual legal code.

It all seems so quaint now, but it got hostile with Vietnam-style protests on the Diag and everything. 

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mtzlblk

December 20th, 2021 at 1:53 AM ^

I was there for Wallace for my sister's graduation when he apologized as part of his speech for some comments he's had made previously. 

Kasdan was the speaker for my graduation a few years later and in think I still have a VHS tape with his speech on it. I remember him saying that he was just as confused then as the day he graduated and that there are no answers except to be sure that you start in touch with friends and be sure that when someone gets married or has a baby to get on a plane and be there. Or something like that. It was an excellent commencement speech.

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