They Missed My PhD Graduation—So I Used The Empty Seats To Tell The Truth

Somewhere in the back, a baby made a gurgling sound. Someone coughed. Life continued.

I took a breath that felt like the first breath after nearly drowning.

“When I started writing this speech,” I began, my voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline flooding my system, “I did what we’re all trained to do in academia. I drafted something that sounded continue reading …