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It's that time again,
Graduation time. The Spring Quarter ended a couple of weeks ago at the
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where I am an Instructor, and I for one, was very happy. I had a full load of SIX classes and over 120 students' papers, patterns and final presentations to grade--on top of my already extra full schedule. Needless to say, I was pooped!
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I was asked by the
Fashion Department Chair to attend the
2007 Graduation, as a "Special Guest", which means that once again I would be sitting on the stage with all the illustrious department chairs , honorees, president of the school, and so on. I was invited last year to do so and I was very honored then, as well as now. I was also asked to give a speech and announce the
Outstanding Fashion Design Student Award. It was a very hot Saturday morning but thank God, we VIP'ers stayed cool under the famed Greek Theater's roof (and in
my fabulous Seersucker cotton jacket!).
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The crowd of about 2000 graduating kids and families went crazy when I was announced. (Hello, I felt like
Kelly Clarkson all over again!) and I nervously did my speech, gave the award and did a meet-and-greet with former students as well as their families.
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It was a nostalgic event for me, since I had taught a lot of this year's graduating class and had seen these students mature and progress into outstanding young adults I was very proud of. I especially have fun memories of "my kids" from my
Collection Development class from several quarters ago. It was one of the best groups I had: Talented, driven and very creative. Exactly what
FIDM should be honored to call "their own".