Commencement

\kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt\

 

: an act, instance, or time of commencing

   a : the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas  

   b : the period of activities at this time 

 

 

Tomorrow is the big day. I realize that I have been finished with school since April.

I have my teaching certificate in hand, as well as a wonderful job.

I have seen my diploma in the hands of my parents.

Tomorrow I walk across the stage of Coleman Coliseum.

Tomorrow I hear "College of Education, Whitney Paige Barrentine, Summa Cum Laude."

Tomorrow its all worth it.

Tomorrow I will be proud.

Not only of myself but for my classmates, the University of Alabama, the city of Tuscaloosa, and the state of Alabama as a whole.  

Tonight there will be a candlelight vigil held at Foster Auditorium to honor all who lost their lives on April 27th. Its amazing to see so many come together as one, but the fact that it is at Foster Auditorium says even more to me. 

Just to brush up on your Alabama History-

"More than any other event, Foster Auditorium is known as the site of the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" incident. On June 11, 1963, Governor George C. Wallace, making good on a campaign pledge to not allow integration of the University, stood in the doorway of the building on the day of registration. He was attempting to block two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from enrolling at the University. President John F. Kennedy called on the Alabama National Guard to forcibly allow the students to enter the building if need be. Calling it "an unwelcomed, unwanted, unwarranted and force-induced intrusion upon the campus," ^[7] Wallace denounced the actions, but, seeing as he could not win against the combined efforts of the Guard, federal marshals and Deputy United States Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, stepped aside, returning to the state capital as Malone and Hood entered for registration. The incident is seen as one of the seminal events in the Civil Rights Movement in America. This is where the building got its name, after Autherine Lucy Foster, a Civil Rights activist."

Tonight, a little more than 47 years later people from all walks of life will be joining together at this same location, United as One People, the Crimson Nation.

Tomorrow I will walk across a stage that represents 180 years of greatness. 

I am not speaking purely of athletics or academics.

I am speaking of the University of Alabama as a whole. 

Last night I could not sleep because I kept having nightmares that the distruction of April 27th was happening again, only this time I was there. I still feel guilty that I was not there. I could not comfort my friends.  I could not physically support my community.  I could not help bear the burden.

   

That is MY apartment, those are My neighbors. 

I will never know why God was gracious enough to spare me from it all.

It was for His Glory alone.
 

I went back to Tuscaloosa one week after the tornado to see my students, they will be starting school next week.  Starting school on a different side of town in a new building. 

The devastation of that day will always loom but this is a time of Commencement for Tuscaloosa as well.  

Rebuilding is everywhere.

Spirits are High.

Students and communities are coming together like never before.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful place. 

Being the first person in my family to graduate from college, was a great accomplishment. 

I am thankful for the education I received, and the friends I made.

But the greatest blessing of all is the person I became because of my affiliation with the institution.   The healing of the human spirit.  The unity.  The many ways God showed up and healed this town. Knowing that in many ways Tuscaloosa will always be a home to me. Its a refuge, a safe place. Many things will have changed when I walk onto campus in the morning but the one thing that will not is the way each one of us will feel when we are there. 

I'm not joking its almost electric. The energy present tomorrow will be abounding. 

Roll Tide!