There are a lot of cycles (los ciclos) in life that are part o our everyday rhythm, such as the cycle of a hour on a clock (un reloj), the cycle of moving from morning to night and back to morning in a day, and the seasons (las estaciones) throughout a year. There are also natural cycles (los ciclos naturales), such as photosynthesis, the water cycle and the rock cycle. What separates a cycle from other types (otros tipos) of events is that the movement beings in one place and moves through a series of connected events to in effect come back (volver) to the starting point. These cycles are in effect circles (un círculo), revolutions that start and end at a relative and congruent point, a sequence that is completed and repeated over time.
One such cycle of annual ritual at UTEP and at many universities around the world is ceremony (la ceremonia) of graduation. Graduation is an event that celebrates the termination of a degree plan (un plan de estudios) that signals the completion of an academic program at the university for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Although this is a finite point (un punto finito) on a linear progression within a plan of studies, the cyclical part of this idea is that at the end of each semester (cada semestre), a graduation occurs, bringing one such celebration at the end of the Winter term in December (diciembre) and another at the end of the Spring term in May (mayo). For academic faculty and staff, this does become part of the annual academic cycle, as we don’t merely attend (asitir) one graduation, we attend 2 annually, continually for our entire academic careers.
Many (muchos) large universities also have a Pre-Commencement ceremony, which is usually for a specific college within the university. For example, I work in the College of Education and we have a ceremony prior (antes) to the main university graduation event, one which is a bit more intimate (intimo), and also allows the faculty and staff in the College of Education the opportunity to recognize (reconocer) outstanding accomplishments, awards and honors for students as well as advanced degree achievement. At this event, which for us is actually held the night before (anoche) the main university graduation, the college itself celebrates the success of the students along with their families and friends.
It is at this event that I find myself with a unique perspective (una perspectiva única), a reflection on a cycle of a year marked by this Winter Pre-Commencement, from both this year (este ano) and last year (el ano pasado). At this ceremony, exactly 1 year ago, I was sitting on the stage (el escenario) understanding that I would be leaving the next day to begin a journey with students, faculty and my wife, Sarah, all the way to Antarctica. I remember feeling the uncertainty (la incertidumbre) of this event in many ways, unsure of what would transpire, what events would take place and what would ultimately be the impacts. It was a time of anticipation, of relative anxiety (una preocupación relativa) and excitement, a time fraught with expectations, a journey to a place so far away (muy lejos) that I can remember thinking, “I wonder what will happen to us all?”
Now, one year later, I have made it to this year’s Pre-Commencement ceremony, having only returned the day before (ayer) from my six-month excursion in Santiago, Chile as part of the Fulbright US Scholars program. As I was greeted by my colleagues and saw students and families ready to celebrate (celebrar) their achievements, I found myself reflecting on the year that had been, one that began with a journey to Antarctica and finished with a return (una vuelta) from a half-year in Santiago. This cycle was unlike any that I had ever experienced in my life (en mi vida) , and probably as unique a set of experiences as I could ever hope to experience (experimentar) in one year’s time. While the cycle of graduation will surely repeat (repetir), and I imagine I will find myself back in this spot again next year, I am looking forward to seeing how (como) this set of unique events will translate to my life here in El Paso.
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