MET Graduation, Meeting New People

Yesterday was graduation day for 34 UBC Master of Educational Technology students who have worked long and hard to earn their Master's degrees.  As many of you know, I'm the Senior Program Assistant for the program, which is an online Master's degree that can be taken by students from all over the world.

Because of the online nature of the program, I don't often get a chance to meet any of "my" (I say that just because I do feel a sense of "parental" attitude, in a way, don't ask me why) students.  Many of them don't live in the Lower Mainland.  Even for the ones who do, one of the benefits of the program being online is that they never have to come to campus.


It wasn't necessarily for that reason, but starting last May, when we had over 30 graduates, we decided that it would be a cool thing to have a little celebration for the graduates who manage to attend the graduation ceremony.  Kind of our own congratulations to them.  It also gives us a chance to put some names to faces, as well as giving the graduates a chance to do that too.  Most of these students have never met each other, either.

Yesterday was our second party, and it went just as well as the first.  It was so cool meeting and chatting with these people, so accomplished and dedicated, as well as the parents or other family (wives, husbands, what have you) who are also very proud of their family graduate.  Each graduate spoke for a moment when we gave them our graduation gift to them, and I have to admit one of them made me blush (we'll see if she reads this).  I love compliments, but I don't take them well.  A co-worker who was standing right next to me said that she even *felt* the blush!  I'm sure she was exaggerating....right?  Right?

Anyway, I just wanted to congratulate them all again, whoever might stumble upon this entry, and to say how cool it was to meet them all.  I hope, as we do this more often, more graduates will come.  But we'll see.  It's just nice to meet some of them.

As an aside too, I wanted to wish any of my American readers who are reading this rather than spending time with family a wonderful Thanksgiving, since this will probably be my last post today.