Law school prom?
In my three years of law school, I never went to the "Barrister's Ball", which was in reality the Law School Prom, but worse because, unlike high school, now all the folks are legal to drink. Which they do. To excess. And stupidity.
There just isn't much dignity surrounding the event, despite the exhalted name. I've never regretted the decision to miss out, and never thought I'd missed much. I did prom... half a lifetime ago. No need to revisit that! (although, hmm... I still have that dress somewhere... might consider making curtains out of it...)
But now that I've graduated and am walking this May, there is the "Graduation Gala". And I've decided to go. How is it different from the Prom? Well, I do actually think this will be a classy event. First, it's more expensive and in a nicer venue, The National Building Museum rather than some downtown hotel. Second, it's a "graduate and family" event -- meaning that parents are invited. And it's semi-formal.
So, I think it won't be a slop-fest the way the Law School Prom tends to be. I think it will be more grown-up and befitting the magnitude of the achievement of surviving and graduating law school. At least, I expect so since lots and lots of proud mammas and pappas will be in attendance.
And I decided that I wanted to bring my parents as my guests to thank them for all of their support throughout these past years -- some financial, lots of emotional and then generic parental backstop kinda stuff. The only problem is that the ticket sales are limited to 4 guests -- which means if your parents are divorced (as mine are) and have either remarried or have a significant other (as mine do), then either someone gets left out (like your own date!) or creativity in securing the extra ticket comes into play. Ahh, the collateral costs of divorce!
Also, the museum does not have sufficient capacity to reserve four tickets per student, so those who don't buy early will lose out completely, which would be terribly disappointing.
Got my tickets a few hours after they went on sale. Phew. Don't know if Mom can make it since she's in Australia at the moment, but I secured the tickets anyway. Since this event invariably sells out, I can always sell them to someone else down the line if Mom decides not to attend. But I hope she does. Dad already said "Yes" as did my date.
And I'm looking forward to it. Ahh, basking in the glow of parental love and pride! A bit embarrassing but generally a warm feeling, even in your late 30s!
There just isn't much dignity surrounding the event, despite the exhalted name. I've never regretted the decision to miss out, and never thought I'd missed much. I did prom... half a lifetime ago. No need to revisit that! (although, hmm... I still have that dress somewhere... might consider making curtains out of it...)
But now that I've graduated and am walking this May, there is the "Graduation Gala". And I've decided to go. How is it different from the Prom? Well, I do actually think this will be a classy event. First, it's more expensive and in a nicer venue, The National Building Museum rather than some downtown hotel. Second, it's a "graduate and family" event -- meaning that parents are invited. And it's semi-formal.
So, I think it won't be a slop-fest the way the Law School Prom tends to be. I think it will be more grown-up and befitting the magnitude of the achievement of surviving and graduating law school. At least, I expect so since lots and lots of proud mammas and pappas will be in attendance.
And I decided that I wanted to bring my parents as my guests to thank them for all of their support throughout these past years -- some financial, lots of emotional and then generic parental backstop kinda stuff. The only problem is that the ticket sales are limited to 4 guests -- which means if your parents are divorced (as mine are) and have either remarried or have a significant other (as mine do), then either someone gets left out (like your own date!) or creativity in securing the extra ticket comes into play. Ahh, the collateral costs of divorce!
Also, the museum does not have sufficient capacity to reserve four tickets per student, so those who don't buy early will lose out completely, which would be terribly disappointing.
Got my tickets a few hours after they went on sale. Phew. Don't know if Mom can make it since she's in Australia at the moment, but I secured the tickets anyway. Since this event invariably sells out, I can always sell them to someone else down the line if Mom decides not to attend. But I hope she does. Dad already said "Yes" as did my date.
And I'm looking forward to it. Ahh, basking in the glow of parental love and pride! A bit embarrassing but generally a warm feeling, even in your late 30s!
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