Sunny Bedford

Photo illustration

I almost missed my graduation.

Scratch that – I almost missed my only opportunity to walk in graduation, but let me explain.

Because I’m finishing my degree in December 2024, within the 2024-2025 school year, I am expected to walk in the May 2024 commencement ceremony, due to a recent change in graduation procedures that came as a result of Loyola’s new operating system.

According to the new regulations for graduation, anyone who completed their degree during the spring, summer, or fall of an academic year must walk in that year’s graduation ceremony, regardless of if you finish after the May graduation.

This rule, which was not formally communicated, only confused me, hence why I almost missed my graduation.

Why would I walk before even completing my degree? Even when I walk this spring, I still have to return in the fall to finish my last 12 credits.

Walking in graduation earlier than expected is nerve-wracking, and I wouldn’t have even known to double check my graduation date if it weren’t for a friend questioning my statement.

Once I confirmed with university registrar Kathy Gros that my only opportunity to walk was May 2024, my panic increased tenfold.

Like any other person with this realization, I did the only thing I could think of – immediately calling both of my parents in the middle of their work shifts.

Shock and happiness were received all around, but now, the real work begins.
I have a handful of months left until I walk across the stage – with a degree that won’t even be complete when it happens.

Beyond almost missing my graduation due to the lack of clear communication, on a more personal note, I no longer get to enjoy the day by walking with my friends.

I have a great group of seniors also graduating this spring, but what about the ones in my year that I’ve been with since freshman year (and yes, it’s possible to still be friends with most of your freshman year group)?

I’ve already had one friend who graduated last spring, and that was hard enough to deal with.

Now another is graduating, and it happens to be me.

I didn’t plan on finishing my degree early, it just happened.

An English degree in three years? Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud, and in serious disbelief, of myself.

But now, I have more stress than ever.

Instead of a year to prepare in advance for graduation and traveling, I now have to inform my immediate and extended family that my timeline got cut down by a whole year – start making your plans to come down to New Orleans now, family, or you’ll miss my only chance to walk across the stage.

So, if you still see me around campus in the fall, don’t be concerned – I still have a degree to fulfill.

But with the act of walking in graduation months behind me by that point, I hope it’s all still worthwhile.