Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for August 23, 2012

I understand – I skipped both my college ceremonies. 25 years apart. A bunch of nice people who I really did not know surrounding a few I did know. I should have skipped my HS one also. 680 grads of which I only keep track of about 8.

Yeah, I skipped my graduation ceremony too. And so did most of my friends. We had our own ceremony.

I got my first degree in July…I have no idea when the ceremony was….

And, I don’t care what republicans say, going to college and getting a well rounded education of everything in the world, (Shhhh, it was called the Liberal Arts, but we can’t use that word any more…) is still just as much of a plus as learning how to fix gadgets….

How come I have a feeling that this private party will end up being a wedding?

Mail me the diploma and I’ll put a tassel on my rear view.

I’m all for higher education, just don’t go into debt to get it. There are plenty of options, whether it’s community college, on-line universities, or trade schools where you it won’t cost you a three-bedroom house to get an education. While I agree that education is always valuable, it’s not always monetizable. And yeah, I skipped my graduation ceremony, too.

Our grandson went to a technical college rather than a “regular” one and now earns more than my husband ever dreamed of.

Our high school typically has less than 30 graduates. So to make it seem worthwhile, I suppose, for people to drive perhaps 60 miles to see the ceremony, they have the graduates enter as couples (unless there’s an odd number, then one boy will be paired with two girls, or one girl will be paired with two boys), while some poor pianist plays “Pomp and Circumstance” over and over and over and…. Each couple enters about ten or fifteen feet apart. Then there are slide shows, baby pictures to current for each graduate. What else? Hm. It’s been awhile. Oh, the scholarships each student was granted are read.

I also skipped my GED graduation … and my grad school graduation. (I was getting married in a month, and had little interest in anything else!) My master’s isn’t making me rich, and I’m still paying off my loan, but grad school involved a year in Russia, which was fantastic – and there I met my wife of six years! I’d cheerfully take on a loan twice as big.

I didn’t walk either for my college graduation….besides, I finished up my degree in December and the ceremony wasn’t until May…I had no interest in returning to the college almost 6 months after I finished to get my degree handed to me….getting it in the mail was perfectly fine for me! My parents weren’t disappointed in the slightest…they didn’t even realize I HAD my degree until I showed it to them more than a year later LOL!

Well, that answers one of my questions from a few days ago. We still don’t know what Gene studied, though I can guess.

toppop, Universities are there for education’s sake and becoming a knowledgeable person about many many subjects. First degree is for education, second degree, (master’s) is to get a good job, maybe….If all you want is a job and nothing more, two years will get you a heating and cooling degree. Colleges are for a wide ranging education, but only if you want it, or can afford it. They create an over all more intelligent and thoughtful population, better able to respond to all changes in life. That’s why every civilized country on earth (well, except for the US, we ARE kind of backward..) pays for a university education for as many students who want one. They think of education as an investment, evidently we don’t. Or we’re just too cheap……Guess we are just OK with an uneducated population, as long as they are employed

The US used to set the bar higher…….Maybe jobs are going over seas because people over there have better educations?

Awwww, come on Arlo, college graduation is only once in a lifetime. If you don ‘t go, you’ll always regret it. Talk Gene onto it. You can eat at Gus’ restaurant and sleep on the boat any time. And someone above mentioned a wedding. Why would Gene want a wedding? Like they used to say, “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” Graduation isn’t important, marriage isn’t important, nothing is important anymore…except checking your phone for text messages :-)

I’m going to keep and make copies of this strip and mail it back (with a check) with my rsvp to every graduation invite that I get from now on.

Is that a little snarky smirk on Janis’ face? ;P

Marvee, Ouch!………….But I think you’re on to something there….

Smart man.

Did not go to my undergraduate (going on to grad school) or Master’s graduations (working). I did go to the one for my doctorate since I figured I would never be graduating again.

Three college degrees here, two baccalaureate and one master’s, and went to one graduation ceremony—primarily because it got me out of a day’s work, with pay.

I feel like the lonely little petunia in an onion patch (a song that I referred to in another post http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7nO9n6Ez64 ) – kind of out of synch with the rest of the posters. I loved all my graduation ceremonies – junior high, high, bachelor’s (it was a February graduation, a little sparse), first master’s, second master’s at age 42. My mom, aunt, uncle, cousin, mom-in-law, husband, and kids attended various ones and got a charge out of them. I was kind of a wallflower in high school, but have kept up with the Class of ‘53 from high school, and continue to have some sort of relationship with many of them, including attending a great holiday party. Just made a new friend with one that I’ve known since jr. high. Re: A humanities-type education: I agree that you don’t need to morgage your future to get one, but it’s good to have something other than the technical stuff so that you can have a better chance of becoming part of a well-informed electorate.

C.P. Snow, The Two Cultures, 1947: The sciences and humanities have drifted apart to the degree that they can’t talk to each other. As a result, we are getting humanities with no basis in reality and science without a conscience. I can translate, but no one is interested.

Will the Seniors please come down to the office Monday and pick up their diplomas . . .

There were two graduation ceremonies that I treasure. Graduating from Basic, and Graduating from BUDS. Those are the only two that mean anything to me.

This strip has taken a nice turn!!!

Maybe this country follows the Auburn Creed, and I will paraphrase. I believe this is a practical world. I can only count on what I earn. I believe in hard work, education (to work wisely, train my hands to work skillfully). I believe in honesty and truthfullness (without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow man). I believe in a sound mind and a spirit that is unafraid. I believe in obedience to law to protect the rights of all. I believe in the human touch. I believe in my country because it is the land of the free. I can best serve this country by doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God.