Earning a bachelor’s degree provides a foundation towards a stable career throughout the rest of life, and is a defining moment of adulthood. It’s naturally often celebrated in bombastic ways only adults do.
Dillyn Allen-Justine, a psychology major graduating from Delta, considers herself a very modest partier; but, she desires a massive celebration for when she gets her bachelor’s.
“When I graduate with my bachelor’s, I’m gonna have a big party because it’s been a 25 year-old goal of mine to get my bachelor’s … I returned later in life and it’s been a long journey; so by the time I finally do it, I’m gonna rent out a hall and have a big party.” Allen-Justine said. “But normally I would say I’m a small and intimate kind of gal.”
If earning a bachelor’s and higher degrees is a mark of adulthood, earning an associate’s degree is like an awkward adolescent transition between the high school graduation of children and getting a bachelor’s: you don’t get time to live in the moment as yourself, like a teenager, before you’re called by higher influences towards a new world — that being a four-year college. That may make graduating community college not feel like a success worth making a show of then.
“I mostly just keep to myself so I don’t do too much, I just kind of celebrate my successes alone in my own head,” said Devan McMinn, a dual-enrolled student at Delta and Stockton Early College Academy who is graduating with an Associate in Arts.
Still, an associate’s is a significant milestone in one’s educational path to life-long career choices. Community college is a very developmental period for the growth of students, and deserves to be celebrated as much as the prime of youth or the later years in life.
So then, how are Delta students graduating this semester celebrating their associate’s?
Taking the summer off for a scenic getaway is a good way to celebrate after the hard work of spring. Julissa Barrios, a mathematics and science student graduating from Delta with an Associate’s in Science, plans to take a flight to tour Europe and London after her graduation.
“I think my time at Delta has gave me a lot of perspective of where I can go and where I’ve started, and I think there was a lot of good communication between students and goals.” Barrios said.
Regina Lopez is a graduating business administration major at Delta, who befriended Allen-Justine playing senior softball together in Modesto. Her plans were simple: a small mimosa brunch with family to commemorate her graduation.
“Being together with the community, and being with people that have completed the same thing we have and also felt the same struggles that we have, especially at our age – going through it with [Allen-Justine] too — we’re older, we’re working, we’re doing a lot of things. We’ve got life and trying to do school too. So it’s nice to celebrate and celebrate together.” Lopez said.
Alcohol was also on the menu for Kiema Garett, a journalism major graduating from Delta who will be pursuing public relations at Sacramento State University in the upcoming fall. Garett plans to visit her favorite place – Kings Card Club – for drinks; her favorite there is a vodka drink with Tajin and chamoy called “Mexican Candy.”
Garett also wished the following to commemorate her graduation.
“Put this on record, if I’m honest, you could celebrate me by sending me money. To my CashApp, Venmo, cash — I’ll take that too. Now that’s how you celebrate right there; cards, gift cards and everything, that’s how you celebrate. I don’t want a party. Give me the money.” Garett said.
A shopping spree is certainly one way to celebrate. While goods and luxuries are a more indulgent way to spend after graduation, it’s also a fruitful decision to cover necessities or put money into funds — especially in the current economy.
Then, perhaps the better way to celebrate is to simply share the joy of graduation with others, and take those moments spent together along for the next phases of life.
“Asking people to give you advice or to write down a sentence of advice they could give you. Just as you continue on in your life endeavors, you would be surprised at how many quotes you get and forms of advice: funny, serious, things like that.” Garett said.
