simpLy m.e.

The day had finally ‘arrived’! I woke up early in the morning, got myself ready, got my husband to get Adzka ready, then my husband drove me to the Registry.

Oops, the counters were closed. I was worried. But not for long as a nice lady was smiling at me and asked if I came to collect the graduation pack. I answered in affirmative and she was asking for my student card. I extended mine and told her: ‘there would be only two PhD students graduating this afternoon’

She found my graduation pack. She wished me best of luck and I wished her good weekend ahead. I could not stop smiling. I checked the exact location where I should go to collect the robe and the hood. It took only a couple of minutes to get all those done.

But the time passed too quickly. It was after 2pm when we left Hasina’s house heading to the Barony Hall. I was told to register for the graduation – a mere formality which was very much designed to ensure that each seat was being allocated to a graduate who actually was present.

I was given the registration pack. A1 – I was allocated the seat number A1. ”Oops, does it mean I would be the first person to go on stage to receive the award?” I wondered. Well, it turned up that I was. Unlike the previous two convocations I attended for my undergraduate and master degrees respectively, there was no rehearsal for this one. I was not even sure if I was holding the hood correctly.

But the officers in charge were there to ensure that the processing would go perfect. Clear instructions were repeated to the graduates. They congratulated me – they said, “you must be obtaining the highest to be awarded today, to be assigned the first number” I thanked them but was very much concentrating on what I should do.

The time came, I was guided near the stage, walked up, bent myself a little bit (no, I did not kneel down) to let the hat to be quickly touched on my head (a symbol of blessing? well, I am sure at least that signified the ceremonial award of the degree) and walked towards the other end of the stage to receive the parchment and to let the hood properly placed which symbolized that I had then officially graduated.

Then I walked all the way through the hall to get back to my seat – waited for the rest of the graduates to go up on stage to have their ‘part’ done before the ceremonial speech was delivered.

Then the university staff walked down the stage heading out of the hall. I was told to follow them, to walk right behind them. It was an honour, really!

I felt great! I felt good about me finally getting what I had worked really hard for. I was deligthed, happy, moved, all the feelings were there. I even felt like crying. I could not believe that I really had the PhD awarded to me. I waited in front of the hall to join my husband and son. Took some pictures within the Barony Hall, including those taken with Mohammad. Then went straight to the Lord Todd, trying to get hold of my supervisor.

I could not find Professor Norrie there. I asked my husband to take one picture of me with the Scottish bag-pipes player before we headed to the Lord Hope. I was hoping to find my supervisor there.

He was not there either. Tina was helping me to check if he was in his office. No, he was not. I took a picture with Tina. Then I showed my office to my husband and son. Thank God, Smile was there. I told her that I was looking for her early in the morning. I was not surprised when she told me where she was. Anyway, I took some pictures with her, then with Laura before I left the office.

Today was really my lucky day. Professor Norrie was just about to walk into the office as we were leaving. I asked his permission to take some pictures. Many pictures, actually. It was good that Smile was there that she could help taking some family pictures with Professor Norrie.

Then I needed to get back to the Eve and Ravenscroft to get the official graduation pictures taken. I was also supposed to return the robe before 5pm. The traffic was extremely heavy. So I told my husband that I would go first before he would manage to’ pass’ the traffic and get to the parking area which was just on the other side of the road.  

Well, the big day was over. The day was extremely beautiful. Surprisingly, as the weather report forecasted yesterday, Glasgow is the only city in Scotland that had such a good weather today – the only city in Scotland that ’skipped’ the rain Alhamdulillah for everything. I am now extremely exhausted. Its 10pm now. I better go for Maghrib prayer and take a little nap. Alhamdulillah again and thank you Allah.. thanks – unaccountably to You!