DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have lots of fun book-ish stuff going on, but today I want to share something a little different, although it is related. Last Saturday my alma mater, Austin College, awarded me an Honary Doctorate of Humane Letters. I was incredibly, burstingly proud, for all the obvious reasons, and some that are maybe not so obvious. (Austin College in not in Austin, by the way, but is a small Presbyterian college in north Texas, known for its academic excellence. It was founded by a Princeton alum, Dr. Daniel Baker, in 1849, and its charter was modeled after those of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Also, I might add, Austin College admitted women in 1918, so take that, Harvard!)
Here I am in my cap (which very annoyingly wouldn't stay on--I am apparently a pin-head) and gown.
(I envied the faculty in their nice soft medieval-looking caps.) And here's the beautiful hood in my school colors--I hope I have a chance to wear it again someday.
Going into last weekend, I had just finished our Jenn's wonderful SUMMER READING. It made this honor especially poignant because Jenn's dyslexic heroine's story was my story, too. I did okay in elementary school (except for the daydreaming) but when I hit middle school I really began to struggle. By 9th grade I was failing everything. My desperate parents had me tested and I was diagnosed as being dyslexic (no one said "neurodivergent" in those days.) I read fairly well although I scrambled things, but I was severely challenged in math. Things (including a semester's misadventure in boarding school) didn't improve, and at the beginning of my junior year, I dropped out.
I was lucky in that my parents never stopped trying to find ways to help me. They enrolled me in a sort of prep school that worked with dyslexic kids. I took college prep courses and eventually managed to get my GED. Off I went to a big state university, where I once again FAILED everything.
I bounced around for a couple of years after that, taking courses at community college, a stint in secretarial school. But I knew I wanted more, and when I was accepted at Austin College as a sophomore, I knew I had finally found my place. It was hard, really hard (it's not called "the Harvard of the south" for nothing,) but I loved it so much that I never wanted to leave. Here I am, revisiting the science building where I spent most of my three years at AC!
And enjoying the new lighting on the beautiful campus.
Kayti and Wren and I found my name on the plaque listing all the college's graduates from 1849 on.
When the college president, Dr. Steven O'Day, called to ask if I would accept the honor, he said that he and the board of trustees believed I was "the poster child for liberal arts" and I have never been so complimented. In these days of book-banning and the devaluation of education, especially liberal arts education, I am more aware than ever of the value of that broad and deep learning. I also know that I would not have been able to accomplish what I have in my writing career without the foundation Austin College gave me.
As I sat on the platform, watching the graduating seniors accept their diplomas, I felt hopeful that these young adults will take that gift and go out and make a real difference in the world.
And of course I'd like to see another generation follow in the Austin College tradition! Here's our Wrennie Roo doing her kangaroo pose!
The really big news of the weekend was the announcement that Austin College has received a $20 million dollar bequest from alumnus Clifford Grum, the late publisher of Fortune Magazine and vice-president of Time, Inc, which will provide full academic scholarships for eligible students. Go Roos!!
Reds and readers, is there an accomplishment that has made you especially proud?
P.S. "Honorary" is the operative word. I can't call myself Dr. Crombie. But if I want to put letters after my name, it's DHL (not to be confused with the shipping company) or LHD. Pretty cool!
