Graduation and it's all over - Really!!!

Pic: Graduation!!!!

The feelings on 12th May, 2007 can just not be translated into words as I went on to the dais to shake hands with the chancellor and the dean in the presence of a host of dignitaries, and more importantly in the presence of some of the closest friends at Rolla. Yes! I am talking about the graduation ceremony at UMR, Rolla. Yadu and I have had a similar background with both of us having worked for a couple of years in the same company before doing our masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and having arrived at the same time, it was highly imperative that we leave together.

Pic: 1300, #7 - Rama, me, Venkatesh and Yadu

The graduation ceremony is certainly a once in a lifetime experience, and I just understood why this ceremony is so important in the United States. I have none of my family members in the United States and so, obviously, I look upon friends before taking any step in this big land. I, rather we, had the good fortune of having some of the closest guys around. Rama flew in from Pittsburg, Karthik Chandramouli (KC) from Sunnyvale, Shubhika from NJ and Abhi from Tulsa exclusively for our graduation ceremony. As people were pouring out of Rolla to various places, it was really good to see people coming from far off places to grace the occasion. It was just good to know that these guys were attaching so much importance to your progress in life. There was this amazing feeling of "Oh! They are here for us!", which is truly unbeatable to any other in life. Everybody also knew that this was going to be one of the few opportunities for all of us to be together. After this, there is this traumatic question of When are we going to meet next and more importantly where and how? It certainly can bring a nostalgic feeling to anyone around. So, here we got together to enjoy the last moments in Rolla and in style!

Pic: Castleman Hall, Leach Theater

The incoming people from the other states slowly clamored into Rolla, and slowly, the trickles just clogged the university town. Nobody had seen Rolla more crowded than what it was on Friday and Saturday (11 and 12 May, 2007). People were there all around and every house had about 10 occupants easily. Discussions and arguments were flying thick and fast. The other guys were catching up on the latest happenings in Rolla. If you are wondering how Rolla can generate so much gossip, ask the Indian community around, and you will go back with a plethora of information. Information gets churned here faster than the speed of light and I really mean it. Yadu was showing off his new found love, his new car, Mercedes Benz. It was a real beauty. All of us took turns to get into the driver's seat and fiddle around steering the car safely (obviously, otherwise he would have killed us!).

Pic: Dignitaries on Dais

Saturday morning started at almost noon, what with all of us sleeping at five or six in the morning after all the talks. We had a good lunch at the other Kannada hub whetting our appetite with spicy food (Thanks to Shankar for his pakodas and bajjis!). We had no idea how to put on our cloaks. So, we were assisted by Shubhika in wearing our gowns and hoods. Yadu and I had to reach the Leach Theater early compared to others. We were seated in alphabetical order. As we slowly made our way into the Castleman Hall, it was certainly a matter of pride to see so many people in the auditorium. The dignitaries were introduced and the Phd candidates were seated on the stage. The felicitation of the Phd candidates began after the chief guest gave a brilliant and motivating speech. It was now the turn of the masters candidates, and as I began my walk towards the stage, I could feel my heart beating faster (Don't know why!). I gave the card to the caller, and as my name was called out, it was an amazing feeling to shake hands with some of the important people at UMR, and more importantly to resounding cheer and applause. I will carry this feeling with me for the rest of my life, truly unforgettable. The speaker after the felicitation asked the parents of the candidates to stand up, and then asked all friends and relatives to stand up for an ovation. It was truly emotional to see the whole auditorium rise to the feet and it just went to show that there were so many people waiting to check on your progress in life. I was close to tears. After the felicitation, we gathered outside to take a lot of snaps with friends.

Pic: That's me!

Pic: There goes Yadu!

That evening, about a gang of 20 of us went to the only vegetarian restaurant Gokul in St. Louis. The treat was sponsored by Yadu. It was fun to hang around with the group! The next day, everyone was busy getting ready to fly to their respective places. The trickle turned into a downpour with the whole of Rolla getting evacuated in record time. Sunday evening gave a very strange uneasy feeling for all of us who stayed back in Rolla. It was difficult to see Rolla isolated without people. Rolla without UMR is truly unthinkable and unimaginable and all of us were immersed in an unknown sea of grief. Every one of the guys who went back had this feeling too. Rama and Karthik knew that we would never be staying together in Rolla again. What a life we have had over the last two years. The fun times had to be transported to other destinations when we meet in the future. Yadu looted the house and went back with the same emotional feeling. All of us when we spoke in the evening over phone realised how much of a void our separation had caused. Shubhika, as usual was teary eyed, and that was the only difference between her and the rest of us. We could just place our emotions in check.

Pic: We at Gokul

Pic: Lucky Yadu

Rolla is a place to be when there are people, and when people are leaving, Rolla can be as cruel. It is not easy not to get sentimental or emotional about the place you love so much. I still can hear Rama's voice ringing in my ears "Man, as soon as I saw the lights of St. Louis from above, I could sense that I know this place well. I got the feeling of hometown". Such is the impact of Rolla and it is not everyday that we get a chance to make good friends in life. I will be heading to Boston with a very nostalgic feeling and remembering some of the greatest moments that we lived out in the last two years. These last two years have left an everlasting impression in each and every one of us.

Click here to view the video link of the graduation ceremony
Click here to view the photos of the graduation ceremony