Graduation. The word has a feel to it. A feeling of accomplishment. A feeling that a long hard journey has come to an end, that an important chapter of life has come to a successful conclusion and that a whole new adventure is about to begin.

It seems such a long time ago that you first began to attend {Name of School}. {First Name or Nickname}, do you remember those first days when everything seemed so unfamiliar to you? You had entered a strange new world where everything was new, exciting, and often a little scary.

Certainly your experiences at {Name of School} were not all pleasant or easy. There were difficult courses, difficult assignments, and of course difficult exams. But nothing really important is accomplished without some share of difficulties. And these uncomfortable challenges each had their own distinct part to play in the development of your character, {First Name or Nickname}.

And now, from your perspective as a graduate, you look back at {Name of School} as a second Home. Its hallways, its classrooms, its routines and traditions, its many sights and sounds; and the faces and voices of many special friends will remain with you for the rest of your life. Friends like {Friends} will always be remembered.

There are also those members of your family who believed in you, {First Name or Nickname}, and encouraged you all along the way: people like Family Members}. Your graduation is, of course, a happy event for them. But there is more to their pride than simply the happiness that comes from seeing success in someone they love. Theirs is the special pride that comes from being a part of that accomplishment.

And there were teachers whose faces and voices you will recall for a lifetime: teachers such as {Teacher's Name or Professor's Name}. What they have given you cannot be measured merely in terms of lesson plans and academic credits. They have broadened your horizons and contributed to your understanding and appreciation of life itself.

Many different things will be remembered about your graduation day - the weather, the sights and sounds, and the faces and voices of the formal gathering. But those who were there for your graduation will especially remember the proud moment when the name "{First Name or Nickname} {Last Name}" was announced. They watched with pride and delight as you came forward to receive your proper recognition.

{Graduation Date}, is a day which will always hold a special place in the pages of your family's history, and in the minds and hearts of all those who care for you, {First Name or Nickname}, for that was the day that your accomplishment was recognized as complete. It was on that day that you earned your {Name of Degree}.

{Dedication}

{Book From}

{Date of Gift}

Graduation

This book has been written for you:

{First Name} {Middle Name} {Last Name}

on the occasion of your graduation from

{Name of School}.

Congratulations on earning your

{Name of Degree}.

{Graduation Date}

Alongside these momentous events, we must now place the graduation of {First Name or Nickname} {Last Name}.

{First Name or Nickname}, there were those who said you couldn't do it. There were those who doubted your tenacity. There were those who thought you would never make it. There were those who said that {Teacher's Name or Professor's Name} and the other teachers at {Name of School} were wasting their time.

But, what do those people know anyway? You earned your {Name of Degree} somehow.

It doesn't seem that long ago that you began to attend {Name of School}, does it {First Name or Nickname}? Well, all right. It does seem like a long time ago. Anyway, you knew from the beginning that there would be challenges. And you knew that some of those challenges would be quite enjoyable, others would be exhilarating, but did you have to make every one insurmountable?

And what about the challenges that friends like {Friends} faced dealing with you on a daily basis.

Fortunately, those challenges only served to strengthen you, to sharpen you, to propel you on to greatness, to bring out the true inner magnificence lying just below the surface in every member of your family. And once the challenges had all been met, it was time for your hard work to be recognized. Do you remember that momentous day? It was almost as if the whole world stopped for a few moments in grateful acknowledgement of your accomplishment. Well, {First Name or Nickname}, it was sort of like that.

{Graduation Date}, the day of your graduation, will always be remembered with pride. Some family members, like Family Members} planned to witness the happy event. Of course, it all depended on whether there was a free lunch or not.

Your loved ones will never forget the proud moment when the name "{First Name or Nickname} {Last Name}" was announced. What a memorable moment. A hush fell over the crowd. Heads turned as you made your way to the front. Hearts were filled with joy. Eyes were moist with tears. There was a lump in every throat. And you made your way forward with the grace and dignity for which you have always been known.

"Did {First Name or Nickname} graduate?" the people asked in surprise.

The spontaneous outburst of thunderous applause; the roar of approval; the standing ovation: it was a special moment for everyone. Under the circumstances, it was particularly good that you only tripped once.

And then came the listing of your many accomplishments, and the bestowing of honors and awards too few to mention, even here. Of course, there were obvious ones. But we can't talk about them in print.

But then there were those others that made the day so special for all of us: awards that speak volumes about you, and bring to life in vivid colors your unique approach to the whole educational system: awards for unusual attendance patterns, creative assignment completion and for imaginative use of excuses.

What a rare list of accomplishments! What a graduation! What an important moment in the history of civilization!

Just look at you {First Name or Nickname}! You're a graduate with a bright and exciting future. And just think, {First Name or Nickname}, the whole world lies at your doorstep. There's no telling what awaits you. Achievement. Fame. Honor. Prestige. Glory. Who knows? Maybe even a job!

{Dedication}

{Book From}

{Date of Gift}