Graduation Day: A Moment of Celebration and Reflection

Today marks the beginning of a series of graduation ceremonies at DCU, a time for celebration, joy, and pride—for the graduates, their families, and for us, the staff who have been part of their journey. As someone who has spent more than 20 years in academia, with a PhD, two master's degrees, and a primary degree under my belt—and now pursuing yet another master’s—graduation days like these always bring me back to the excitement and hope I felt as a graduate myself.

But beyond the gowns, caps, and applause, I find myself pausing to ask a bigger question:?Why did we pursue these degrees? Why did we choose this path of learning?

For many of us, education was more than just a route to a career. It was about ambition, about changing the world, even in some small way. We believed that learning was the key to unlocking the power of debate, the ability to engage in open discussions, and to foster a deeper understanding of the world. Our education was not meant to stifle us, to limit our voices, or to see us questioned for having opinions. Yet, in many ways, the systems we work in can sometimes make us feel exactly that way.

As we watch this new cohort of graduates step out into the world, it’s a good time to reflect on why we, as educators and lifelong learners, chose this path. Was it just for promotion, tenure, or a salary? Or was it for something more?

I was the first in my family to attend university, the first to earn a PhD. My father, who did not live to see my later graduations, took immense pride in my first degree. His joy was palpable, and that moment is still one of my most cherished memories. My mother, who is alive today, still holds that pride. Graduation is not just a personal milestone—it is a moment of family celebration, a symbol of dreams fulfilled.

Today, parents and families will be swelling with pride as their loved ones receive their degrees. But for those of us who have been on the other side of the classroom, helping guide them to this moment, perhaps it’s also a time to reflect on?why we do what we do. Is it just to tick off the boxes of promotion, tenure, and financial reward? Or is it something deeper, something tied to our belief in the transformative power of education?

The pursuit of promotion or a better salary, while important, sometimes clouds our ability to engage in open debate and question the status quo. In higher education, we are expected to be critical thinkers, yet often, the environments we work in dampen that very spirit. So, as these graduates walk out into the world, I hope they, and we, do not forget why we went through years of study, not just to secure a job, but to make a difference.

Over the next week, I will be adding to this reflection, inviting us all to pause, question, and remember the real purpose of education.

As we celebrate our graduates today, let’s ensure that they—and we—never forget that education is a tool for thinking critically, challenging the norms, and, most importantly,?for changing the world.