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Graduating from Oxford

20/9/2013

11 Comments

 
Monday the 16th September was the happiest day of my life, and now a few days later I am already sliding downhill because I know I’ll never top that act. On Sunday I started thinking about how my parents told me I was a ‘sad sack.’ I never figured out what that meant but it wasn’t good.  They completely gave up on me; the school suggested I go into remedial classes with people who had no first language or last language. I also remember getting such low SAT’s scores that my mother insisted that something was be wrong with the grading machine and made me take them again. When they asked on the test which one of these words doesn’t fit with the rest; A rhinoceros? A dog? An eagle or an artichoke?  I could not tell you the answer, I saw no difference.  Last Monday I graduated from Oxford University, my parents are probably not just spinning but having an epileptic seizure wherever they are.

 I couldn’t sleep the night before my coronation, folding my bat-winged gown and wrapping in tissue paper my square black cap with the tassel.  The next morning my college met and we were all instructed how the ceremony was to take place.  We were told that we would have to bow three times once to the Dean of the university twice to his two sentinels in costumes that made them look like Jacks in a deck of cards. After the instructions we all marched down the streets of Oxford, skittish with over-excitement into the Sheldonian theatre, built between 1664 and 1668 and designed by Christopher Wren - and I’m talking flying cherubs on the domed ceiling and God pointing at all of us.

The whole ceremony was in Latin, they could have been saying anything and then we had to say something back to them in Latin, which I kept forgetting and when I finally bowed I think I said “Starbucks” in panic. Two elderly elders dressed as Tutors walked up and down with silver sceptres, I was told it was so that anyone who objected to anyone of us getting our masters could object.  I thought I’d be busted and pointed out as a fraud but everyone kept schtum. At this point I was just smiling teeth, unable to believe I was playing the part of me. After the bowing and we were ushered out of the building we were shuffled into a Hogwarts-style room and had to change costumes, signifying we were no longer students but now masters. This outfit was far more elaborate, all embroidered with a green and gold hood.  We had to march back into the Sheldonian again this time with the audience cheering.  We did more bowing and swearing to be smart for the rest of our lives and then all went outside to throw our hats into the air. I have only seen this in films and now I was in it.

All I have left to say is ‘it’s never to late,’ and if they say you’re stupid when you’re young make sure you end up at Oxford.

11 Comments
Dawn
19/9/2013 07:54:31 pm

Wat a truly inspiring story I've thought many times I'd love to do this but family probs and money have always prevailed

Reply
neil evans
19/9/2013 08:15:55 pm

You go girl !!!!! Inspiration !!!

Reply
Sue Bengougam
19/9/2013 09:50:25 pm

So so proud for you, this made me teary. No one deserves it more x

Reply
Anne Marchant
20/9/2013 12:21:52 am

Wow! Well done Ruby Wax Mst (Oxon). Sounds like a fantastic day for all that hard work. (Slightly jealous you studied under Prof Mark Williams MBCT guru..would love to know more about it) Congratulations!

Reply
Kitty link
20/9/2013 03:16:28 am

Congratulations Ruby....I have tears in my eyes reading this lovely story. Enjoy the celebrations and well done. I graduated myself a few weeks ago, but since I heard about this Masters a few years ago, I have wanted to do it too....fingers crossed one day I'll get ther! See you soon when you are over in Dublin. Xx Kitty

Reply
Joan O Hagan
20/9/2013 05:23:25 am

Your truly special you deserve to feel great. You helped me through a very rough time recently Ruby many many thanks.

Reply
Stephen Law link
22/9/2013 08:08:38 pm

Hi Ruby I would like to put you on at The Oxford Literary Festival if you are interested? 22-30 March. It would be for www.cfiuk.org which I run. Let me know!
S

Reply
John link
10/10/2013 07:39:23 pm

I too achieved at Uni after failing at school. Spread the message Ruby - It's not about being clever or thick it's much more complicated, we all have so much potential and mindfulness is one important way of unlocking that potential.

Reply
Brian
13/4/2014 06:36:31 pm

now I would love to see Ruby leading an eight-week training that would be hilarious, well done!

Reply
Brian L Stephens
19/2/2018 03:48:08 pm

I am in my sixties now, but still have nightmares about my school days - mostly about the beatings and bullying from the teachers. I was the youngest in the class and was six weeks short of my fifteenth birthday when I left school. The deputy headmaster, Mr Bergen, who had enjoyed beating me about the body with his fists on occasion, told me that the school could keep me on until the next leaving date, nine months away, but, as they had failed to teach me anything in the years I had attended the school, a few more months wouldn’t make any difference, so they let me go. I think that leaving that school remains the happiest day of my life. My teachers thought I was stupid and I guess that my parents, particularly my dad, would be incredulous if they could be told that, like you Ruby, am an Oxford graduate (2009).
Congratulations Ruby.

Reply
Brian L Stephens
19/2/2018 03:55:32 pm

I forgot to mention that I am diagnosed dyslexic.

Reply



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