Three and a half years later…
I graduated from Azusa Pacific University on Saturday, December 15, 2018, with my Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies!
The top reason I am posting this blog is in hopes that it will in some way be of help to those in Azusa Pacific’s Liberal Studies program and those who are graduating from Azusa Pacific.
Two things I want to discuss before I dive into graduation festivities and the actual graduation ceremony are the two things I had to do for the Liberal Studies department before I got to participate in graduation. Those two things are the Liberal Studies portfolio and the exit interview. I feel like Liberal Studies seniors/graduates do not really talk about the two, and that is why I had a lot of questions about the portfolio and interview before. I am not going to go in depth about them, but I hope what I do share answers most, if not all, that you want to know. I am just going to share a few sentences for each. If you have further questions about the portfolio or/and the interview, feel free to contact me with your question(s).
The portfolio should not take a lot of time for you to do. As long as you have graded hard copies or documents saved on your laptop/ google docs of the required assignments, a three-ring binder, and the required amount of tabs/dividers plus labels, you are golden. As a matter of fact, putting together your portfolio can be fun and an amazing way to look back on some of the work you have done throughout your time in the Liberal Studies program. You will get to pick up your portfolio from the department after they have reviewed it. They go through it but no worries- it will not be graded and as far as I know, it will not have any comments on it. The portfolio is a prerequisite for the exit interview.
Your exit interview will most likely be a group interview with one, two, or more other Liberal Studies seniors. You will be interviewed by some of the people in the head of the Liberal Studies department. I did not think it was awkward. It is not something you should be nervous about. They really take what you have to say to heart. Sharing your experience in Liberal Studies helps them in ways of how they can improve the Liberal Studies program. There are no right or wrong answers because it’s all based on your experience and opinions. Some of the questions they asked were worded poorly but they caught that problem during the interview and happily gave clarification when needed. The questions were divided into different categories. As far as I remember there were four categories: the first had to do with the connection your classes had with your concentration (mine was Special Education), the second had to do with just the Liberal Studies classes, the third had to do with faith integration/ Christian perspective in the Liberal Studies classes, and the fourth had to do with their department (academic advising, responding to emails, updates, and whatnot). Each student, including yourself, must give an answer to every question. My advice is if you know what you want to say, start saying it out loud right away before another person says an answer before you. If you guys speak at the same time, don’t be aggressive to start first haha you two will decide what to do at the time. If you do not know what to say, wait until someone else answers. Hopefully you will have ideas, then, but if not and you still have to speak, do your best to feed off of the previous answers given by those people who spoke before you. The interview did take up the whole hour
Friday, December 14, 2018
Liberal Studies Graduation Celebration
When I sent in my RSVP to this event, I put that I was not going to attend. I did not have to put a reason why. My reason was stupid anyways. I did not want to go because I was not interested and I did not think much people were going to attend. On the week of the celebration, the event crossed my mind many times and I thought if I did not go, I was going to regret it. I shot Liberal Studies an email asking if I could still go even though my RSVP said I was not going. Boy am I glad I changed my mind and Liberal Studies still wanted me to come. It turned out there were a good amount of my classmates who were also graduating and their families who were there.
They provided food and drinks for us, some of which were chips, bread, guacamole, salsa, lemon bars, and sweet tea. They constantly had a slideshow up front showing pictures of us and some of our quotes we submitted to them. Once everyone was settled down, Dr. Flores, went over what Liberal Studies means and gave an overview of what the program is like. Then he shared a devotional and said a prayer. Following that, three professors came up front to give little speeches. One thing that stood out to me from one of the speeches was something I have never heard of or thought about before and that was that teaching can be a lonely profession, but that is a different story for another time. I am not going to type about it on this post. Anyways, next they had each of the graduates come up front to introduce themselves. We did not have to say much, which was relieving. We simply had to say our name, where we are from, what our concentration is, and who is here with us (meaning if there are any family and/or friends who we brought to the event that night). To wrap things up, they gathered all of the graduates together for group pictures. Then we were free to take any other pictures we wanted to take around the room and socialize with others or/and get some more to eat or/and drink
This happened to me but who knows, it can happen to you too! That night, I met someone for the first time who was in the same major as me and was graduating with me! He’s (the only man in our group picture haha) someone I have only heard about and seen around before. I have never had any classes with him. It was super nice to finally meet him. I wish I had at least one class with him and met him sooner. He is such a kind person
The Liberal Studies department gifted us a leather notepad, pen, and booklet that features us in it
Baccalaureate and Alumni Initiation
I am not going to explain what the Baccalaureate and Alumni Initiation is because of the two pictures above but I will tell you side details about it and what I thought about it. It happens the night before graduation day and I think it starts around 7pm. The event takes place at the Felix Event Center. It does not require tickets. It is open to all graduating students and their families. Graduates must be wearing their cap and gown. All seating is first-come, first-served. Attendance is not required but I highly encourage you to show up.
From what I remember, we began the event with worship. Wow wow wow. Worship was so moving. The Holy Spirit was there. Everything was real and beautiful. The songs the worship band chose were perfect because of how applicable they were to reflecting on how God moved mountains for us and overall blessed us during our time at university. I didn’t cry at the graduation ceremony the next day but I did cry during worship at the Baccalaureate and Alumni Initiation. The songs I remember them singing were “Faithful to the End” by Bethel Music, “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship, and “Be Thou My Vision.” The lyrics from “Faithful to the End” were especially powerful; this part in particular:
“I will sing of all You’ve done
I’ll remember how far You carried me
From beginning until the end
You are faithful, faithful to the end
There wasn’t a day that You weren’t by my side
There wasn’t a day that You let me fall
All of my life Your love has been true
All of my life I will worship You”
After worship, we listened to a speaker give a message about significant life events such as the day you get married, the day you have a baby, and the day you graduate, of course. I do not remember the speaker’s name but she also spoke about how we can find beauty in the mundane of every day life. In conclusion, President Jon Wallace came forward to lead us in a candela. Most of the graduates have experienced it before, but as for me, it was my first time since I didn’t go to the candela when I came into APU as a transfer student. Baccalaureate and the candela itself was special
***the kinda secret is out: I’m going to tell you how you, as a graduate, can score a FREE APU alum tee shirt plus a FREE APU alum car license plate thingy!! After the event ends, you can find a table where the two are being given out. It’s after you go down the awkward steps, located at the front entrance of the Felix Event Center where most students enter in for west campus chapel, closest to the trolley stop. If you’re facing those entrance doors I’m talking about, the table is to your left. If you’re exiting out of those doors, coming out from the Felix Event Center, then the table will be on your right. That’s where it was located on the night I came out of Baccalaureate. Don’t be mad at me if they decide to change the location of the table but I assure you it will be there somewhere, so keep on the lookout after the event ends. I’ve already worn the tee shirt like twice before and I currently have the license plate thingy on my car. You can thank me later
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Winter 2018 Commencement | Graduation Day
From what I remember, the graduates had to check-in in front of the Felix Event Center around 8:30am and doors opened for family and friends with tickets at that same time. The ceremony did not begin until 9:30am. With that said, it was an early morning graduation. I forgot what time I woke up that morning but as soon as I finished doing my hair and makeup, I headed out my apartment with my roommate to drop off some Christmas cards and then we walked in the cold to Starbucks. It was a must! I was glad she was down to go with me. I got a morning bun and a hot caramel macchiato. We then walked back to our apartment to put on our cap, gown, and shoes, and grab our belongings ***If you are a graduate and you have a purse/handbag/clutch you want to keep with you during graduation, you are free to do so. You are also allowed to use your phone as you please*** My roommate’s parents picked us up from our apartment to drive us to west campus for check-in. It was kind of them to do so!
When it was time to line up to walk through the gates, we made sure we were sticking with the group of friends we wanted to sit with, as we were allowed to sit anywhere we wanted to with any of the graduate friends we wanted to sit with. There was a lot of waiting before we got to walk out to our seats and a lot of us were thirsty, which brings me to let you know that you should definitely bring a bottle of water!! Even one of those mini bottle of waters would work because it’s convenient and better than no water at all. JUST BRING WATER
Throughout the ceremony, pretty much there were prayers and speakers. For the main message, it had something to do with building an ark and it was confusing at first because I didn’t know what point the speaker (I do not remember the speaker’s name) was making or where what he said was going but then things started to make sense.
Fast forward to the part where I walked across the stage… I handed the caller my name card. When she said, “Tina Ko,” my feet came in contact with the stage as I walked over to President Jon Wallace. I looked at him for a second, then turned my head to the left as I looked at the crowd. The lights were shining on me and I heard scattered cheers. I don’t really know how to explain the feeling I had when walking across that stage other than when I saw others before me walk to President Jon Wallace, it looked like the time it took for them to walk to him was quick but when I was walking to him, I could’ve sworn I was walking pretty fast but even so, it felt like time slowed down as I was walking towards him. It felt like a dream in a way. I was smiling big and was constantly smiling on my way to him. I also forgot their was a correct way I was to shake his hand and grab my diploma. Yes there is a correct way we’re supposed to do it. Before that time, I had never met and I had never spoken to President Jon Wallace. He had never noticed me before until he saw me come up that stage to receive my diploma from him. As what felt like time was “slowing down” in that moment like I was mentioning, I saw his eyes meet mine and I felt as if he was saying, “Sabona” to me, with a sweet smile on his face. “Sabona” means “I see you” in Zulu. It’s used for greeting. I think that’s a significant way of greeting one another! Anyways, he said five first and last words that he would ever say to me (until we meet again in heaven… I don’t know. I honestly just don’t think we’ll ever talk again here on earth but who knows) that I would never forget: “You look so happy. Congratulations.” When the ceremony ended, they played Christmas music which I thought was awesome! Then confetti shot out from above and covered all the graduates. Before it happened, I had forgotten about the confetti part of APU’s graduation ceremonies. I’ve seen it in videos and pictures before. It was something seeing the confetti shoot out in person. It was a fun surprise
Before you go out to find your family, remember to stop to give your friends who you sat with big hugs and say your goodbyes/ see you later to them. When I found my family, they congratulated me, gave me big hugs, and brought me beautiful sunflowers
We took pictures around west, stopped by my apartment to drop off some stuff and load some stuff into the car (we were planning to return later on in the day to finish moving out of my apartment). Then we headed out to my graduation lunch which took place at Buca di Beppo with my family, grandma, and our close family friends
X O ,
T I N A R E B E C C A
Tina Rebecca Ko 