After they walk the line May 10 many students will be celebrating their special days in more ways than one. Nashville senior LaKecia Shockley said she has plans with family and friends to celebrate her graduation. “Two nights before, me and my friends are getting together to reminisce about our college experience at Western,” Shockley said.

This is the last Herald ever, for me anyway. In my eyes, and my teachers can attest to this, that means my college career is complete.

It isn’t official until May 10 though. That is the day that I and about 1,300 other students will be slinking away from L.T. Smith Stadium after we walk across the stage and get a hearty handshake from President Gary Ransdell.

Among the many activities and awards taking place during graduation on May 10 will be words from Tom Layzell, who was recently elected President of the Council on Postsecondary Education.

Originally from Illinois, Layzell also worked as Commissioner of Higher Education in Mississippi.

In addition to last-minute tweaking on final papers and late-night cram sessions, students graduating this spring have another burden to add to their list of things to do before May 10 – making reservations for friends and family attending graduation ceremonies.

They will do one last thing together when they walk the line on May 10. But after commencement the lives of the spring 2003 graduates will run in many different directions when they begin their post-graduate plans. Henderson senior Demetrius Huntspon plans to go into military service full time – he has been in the Army Reserve for four years.

This past January, a little more than a week into phase three, calendar year six and semester 12 – excluding summer terms – of my college career, I paused.

I literally paused. In the middle of the sidewalk, in the middle of the seventh of what would be roughly 6,000 treks up the infernal Mount College Street, in the middle of the frigid rain that tapped, tapped, tapped against my jacket, nudging me ever closer to the brink of insanity.

Graduation is coming up – only a few days are left to get the perfect present. Local businesses have been packed with customers ready to take suggestions on what to get for their children, friends and siblings. Steve Allen, a sales manager at Total Images Audio said he stays busy this time of year with graduation orders piling in.

School is almost out for the summer, and for some, school is almost out forever.

The seniors who will graduate on May 10 will leave the one constant they’ve known for so long – college.

While some will go on to graduate school next year, others will enter the unknown job market. Some may have anxieties about the unknown things they may face post-graduation.

After graduation, some students will be able to spend even more time with their significant other.

But some will have to spend time apart.

For some who will walk the line on May 10, graduation means major changes for their relationships.

People like Madisonville senior Brad Oldham and Madisonville junior Heather Pendergraff, are in serious, committed relationships and are ready to progress into the future with their newly earned degrees and their loved ones.