Hades' Commencement

Now some people are not fans of large research universities, they don't like the feeling of being lost within a sea of undergraduates, regarded by a cold, uncaring administration, as a number rather than a unique and beautiful snowflake. Personally, the 40,000-strong undergraduate population never bothered me all that much, I had my own circle of friends, and when I'd hang out with them it made the place seem as intimate as anywhere else. The 2010 UW Commencement shattered that illusion entirely. It is extremely difficult to feel proud, significant, or satisfied with an achievement when you find yourself surrounded by 4,000 people who have achieved exactly the same honor (or the 169 doctorates who make your own success look pathetic by comparison). It reminds you quite effectively that you are small, average, and insignificant.

Add to this mixture the fact that this was perhaps the hottest day I've ever spent in Seattle, and all of us students are wearing black robes, not to mention the fact that we have to shuffle 4000 pairs of feet across that stage. It was a rough way to spend the afternoon.

Bill H. Gates spoke, and gave a pretty good talk, but the other speakers were mediocre. The student speaker stood out with his fantastically bad performance. I suspect I could have come up with a better speech given ten minutes and a crayon.

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel, and afterward my parents and grandparents took me out to a fantastic dinner at probably the best restaurant in Seattle. I ate me a mighty fine chunk of dead cow, that will probably live in my memory as one of the greatest meals of my life. Kudos to the folks and grandfolks, and many thanks.

I went to bed happy and extremely excited about returning to Catalina the following morning.