Thursday, January 22, 2015

Graduation

Situation: Annie met Liz after she had purchased a graduation gift for her sister Veronica. Both of them are talking about the graduation ceremony and Veronica’s plan of action after finishing four years of studies.

Liz: That is a very lovely bouquet of flowers. Who is it for?
Annie: These flowers are for my sister Veronica. Today is her graduation day.
Liz: It must have cost you a fortune.
Annie: I paid sixty dollars for it.
Liz: That is expensive.
Annie: Yes, but it is worth it. My sister worked very hard for her degree over the last four years. Today is a very important day for her, and I want it to be special.
Liz: That is very nice of you. I wish it is our graduation day also.
Annie: Another three years and we will be done also. Three years seems to be a long time. Yet, it is not too bad.
Liz: Where are they going to hold the graduation ceremony?
Annie: The ceremony will be held on upper campus near the library at 3:00PM.
Liz: I believe the school of Business and the school of Engineering hold the same graduation ceremony.
Annie: That will be a big ceremony. Imagine all the graduating students from both schools along with their relatives and acquaintances.
Liz: You better show up early; otherwise, there will not be a seat left for you.
Annie: I better get a seat close to the stage if I want to get good pictures of my sister.
Liz: I think all the seats up front are reserved for the graduating students. If you want to be close to the stage, you probably will have to stand close by.
Annie: That will be good enough for me. I can snatch pictures of her when she walks by.
Liz: The University always has at least two professional photographers to take pictures of the students when they go upstage for their diploma.
Annie: Yes, I heard that the photographers usually take a couple of pictures of each student— ordinarily, when the students receive their diploma and when the school’s President shakes their hands in congratulation.
Liz: That will take care of the whole thing then. All the important moments will be captured on film.
Annie: And after the ceremony, there will be plenty of time to take pictures of my sister with our family and her friends.
Liz: The university store usually does not require the students to return their graduating gowns and caps right after the ceremony.
Annie: Yes, Veronica has the option of returning them the next day.
Liz: She will be wearing a black gown and cap with a gold tassel, right?
Annie: Yes. I wonder how she will feel. She will probably be very excited, very happy, and also very relieved to be done with her studies for now.
Liz: What do you mean by “for now”? Is she planning to pursue graduate studies?
Annie: Yes, but she plans to find a job first, and then she will go back to school for her Masters degree.
Liz: You mean she will work for a while and then quit to go back to school full-time?
Annie: No, she needs to work to support herself. She will work full-time and go to school part time at night.
Liz: It will be hard to hold a full-time job while going to school.
Annie: I know it will not be easy; however, lots of people have done it. So, she can too.
Liz: I am sure she will be able to do that. She is such a smart person, and hard-working too.
Annie: I wish I am as disciplined as she is.
Liz: Have fun, Annie. Tell your sister that I send my best wishes.
Annie: Thanks. Bye, Liz.

Liz: Bye, Annie.