CLASS OF ‘21

24 years ago, I graduated at Ravinia. It was a blue sky day filled with past and possibility, and a moment to reflect on how far we’d come. We each crossed that iconic stage, weaving amongst the footsteps of Ella Fitzgerald, George Gershwin, Rosemary Clooney, and Miles Davis. We hugged friends under the trees, took pictures in the grass, and rearranged our tassels with the knowledge that nothing — and everything — had changed.

So much life has been lived since then, and four days ago, I was back at Ravinia. This time, it wasn’t a graduation — or was it? It was a blue sky day filled with past and possibility and moments to reflect on how far I’d come. This time, Indigo Girls took the stage filling the air with the sage songs that have guided me from those teen years to now. Rather than speeches, they shared lyrics — ones I know by heart, but now know *in* heart. Where once was a diploma, my girlfriend’s hand rested in mine. I hugged the same, life-long friends under the same long-lifed trees and took pictures in the grass. We drank wine and lit candles and sang in the moonlight, and I laid back with a smile knowing that nothing — and everything — had changed.

I love 18 year-old me. She thought she had it all figured out — and then eventually realized nobody does. She became a student of life. She learned to un-learn. She untied her tassel, felt the threads, and stitched something new. She inspires my 42 year-old self every day. I’m so grateful for her — thank you for getting us here. Cheers to all of us in this proud class of ‘21.