It’s valuable to peek behind the scenes of each snapshot. What does the t-shirt say under the cap and gown? What inside joke made your graduate laugh out loud when their best friend leaned in and whispered? What did the day hold before and after the ceremony?
While the specific accomplishment of completing a stage of education is important, the magic lies in the management of the transition. Change is difficult for most of us. Shifts – big and small – leave us vulnerable and require us to activate our coping skills. Transformation is palpable because – during periods of change, growth is occurring in real time.
Stepping up to the moment and falling apart under stress are both gifts. Either way, a new adaptation rises to the surface. They both make your heart beat faster. Physiologically, the body hardly knows the difference between apprehension and excitement. Whether anxiety or anticipation, problem-solving is activated.
While this may be the only time your loved one celebrates this particular achievement, rest assured there will be countless similar liminal moments. Time and again, they will stand at the threshold and stare into an unknown future. They will act like they know what’s next even though they have no idea. Therein lies the beauty of an ending – a new beginning always follows.
