St. Andrews, Scotland
When we were visiting St. Andrews, we noticed a certain excitement in the air. At first, I noticed a younger person carrying a cap and gown. It’s not uncommon to see this in a college town, as people often might carry around a cap and gown for a picture or moving. When I saw a second student actually dressed up, I had an inkling that graduation might be occurring. When I saw a third student with her family, I went up and asked her; she said that she was graduating that day. I told her congratulations, but then started to notice a growing number of graduates and their families around town.
Three things stood out to me about the graduates. One, the graduates’ gowns were very colorful. Having a “loud” gown myself that I wear to sport my Hokie colors during my graduation or convocation ceremonies, I’m very appreciative of other schools that have colors that pop. Two, the students were getting pictures in some of the photogenic locations around town. It was fun to walk with a couple of the students holding an impromptu photo shoot among the cathedral ruins. Three, I overheard at least a half-dozen people saying that they were in town to see their grandchildren graduate from the University of St. Andrews. That is to be expected anywhere, but what threw me for a loop was that every grandparent that I overheard had an American accent. Hearing American accents is not that surprising, as I later found out 42% of the student body comes from outside the United Kingdom.
The University of St. Andrews is a world-renowned school that has attracted many people, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, who graduated in 2005. Other famous graduates include Edward Jenner, the scientist who created the Smallpox Vaccine, John Knox, the minister who reformed the Church of Scotland, and thousands of others who made their mark on the world. Founded in 1413, it is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world (behind Oxford and Cambridge).
There is an energy that comes with graduations. After attending dozens of them, I typically describe the energy as warm, joyous, and hopeful for the graduates, with just a tinge of sadness as their friends and professors begin to exit a daily part of their lives. Parents and families usually demonstrate pride in their graduates and appreciation for the faculty and staff that helped to get them there. In so many graduations, I have had to take an active role, so it was fantastic to be able to witness this ritual as a casual observer. I wish happiness and prosperity for all of the graduates that I saw today, and I hope that they go on and do great things for the world.
