Master's degree...am I wrong to be put out?

[jaminmd]

Thanks for the congratulations, I'm glad there are people out there who do understand. My master's is in Management/Human Resources. I went back to school for the sole purpose of qualifying for the WDW College Program and Professional Internships, both of which I completed and that transitioned into a management role at WDW. I celebrate my 2nd year (but only my 1st anniversary as school programs don't count) on January 10th. I worked REALLY HARD, working 50-60 hours per week while homeschooling 2 kids and grad school full-time, so some kind of nod from the fam would have been nice.

We are card senders, so that's why I'm so surprised. Not so much gifts, but definitely cards. My grandmothers are what really surprised/hurt me the most. I'm also a scrapbooker and had hoped to have some cards to add to the memories, but I guess I won't bother. I live 1,000 miles away from everyone and opted not to walk as I was online and didn't know anyone at my campus. I decided to take DDs to MNSSHP instead and wore my regalia as my costume. It was great fun and the perfect ending to my college career, I'd have just appreciated a little atta-girl from the people who are supposed to care about me the most.

Maybe if they aren't as educated, they don't understand the significance of it? I realize you worked very hard but f/t grad school while homeschooling, etc., was your choice and thousands of others clear similar hurdles as well when returning to school as adults.

Feel proud of yourself but I don't think you need kudo's from others. It just may not be so important to them.

Congratulations on your degree!

 

[luvsJack]

Op, I understand how you exactly how you feel. You worked hard and you would like just a little "good job". Am I right?

Maybe they were just in a catch and weren't sure the proper way to respond. You know, "do I just send a card?" , "do I send money or a gift?"

Anyway--Congratulations! Job well done! You have a lot to be proud of.

 

[mjkacmom]

Congratulations! In my family, most people have them, plus a few doctors, so it wouldn't be a big deal (my dad, sister, BIL, DH have them in our immediate family, I'm 2 classes away). I think, these days, college degrees are the new high school diplomas.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Congratulations.

I agree with the others who said that I would view this more as a professional development type of thing. I *think* both of my brothers wound up with degrees they earned while in the military, but I wouldn't be able to tell you what the degrees were in or what colleges they were from. I know they didn't sent announcements. They also regularly advance with their titles. (I should know what those titles are, but, well, I don't )

Be proud of yourself and know that your family is proud of you, too. It's just not the kind of thing where the "proudness" elicites a reaction.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I would also view it as a personal accomplishment. It would never occur to me, especially as an established adult, to send out announcements or expect a fuss from the extended family. That stuff is for the kids.

Heck, the only reason we went to my graduation for my Masters is because my mommy made me. Here I was a grown adult, working full time and doing the degree at night but my DM asked about school all the time. And I wasn't living at home the entire time I was getting my degree.
So since she was moving to Colorado the following month with Dad's relocation, I went to graduation and marched for her. It was Mother's Day and I told her it was her present. We then went back to her house and my BIL burned burgers on the grill for everyone. I didn't want a party nor did I expect anyone else to care (except for my mother ).

 

[Allison]

Put me in the category of someone who would never send out an announcement in the first place, so no I wouldn't be upset about it.

 

[lspst8]

Graduations aren't that big of a deal in our family. I know we didn't get or send anything to my sister, BIL,SIL, when they got their Masters. We didn't send anything when my nephew graduated, or his wife graduated Law school, or when my other BIL graduated from college.

Now High School I will send a card and something cause they are kids, but Adults I don't do anything for and no one ever did anything for my DH or I when we got our degrees.

Since you are an adult they probably just think it is great but doesn't need a card or gift.

I agree with this. I didn't do anything when I graduated from law school a few years ago. I didn't even walk in the ceremony ( I went to WDW instead!). My parents and younger sister were really happy for me, but that's about it.

When my sister got her Masters degree, we went out for a nice dinner.

Neither one of us got cards or anything from extended family members. It wouldn't even occur to me to think I would get anything from them, and I'm one of those who would think it was really strange to get a graduation anouncement for someone who finished grad school.

 

[Lionqueen2]

Congrats, but I didn't know people actually sent out an announcement that they graduated with their Master's Degree. I have been with dh thorugh his Master's and his PhD, he never announced it, but family was aware and congratulated him (no gifts). I have also had a number of family and friends with Master Degree's or higher who never officially announced it. I'm sorry, I just find that odd

I also wasn't aware that people sent out announcements because they earned a degree. No one in our family has ever done that and their degrees include bachelors, masters, PhDs, MDs, and JDs. Each person either went out to dinner or was given a little party to celebrate, but no announcements went out from the degree recipient or family. It was the same with our friends and their families.

Congratulations on your degree! You and your family deserve to be very proud of your accomplishment.

 

[NewCrew42]

In my family, kids send announcements to close family members for high school and college graduation. Adults do not send announcements for college graduations, masters or doctorate.

I was 22 when I earned my masters and did not send announcements.

Congratulations by the way.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I feel bad this happened to you. Congratulations on your degree, you have every right to be proud of yourself. Times are hard though, maybe the people around you are just too wrapped up in their own sad stories to applaud you. Try not to take it too personally, people can be funny sometimes. I think the news is terrific!

 

[mdsoccermom]

I received my M.A. in Political Science. Only one other person in my family has a graduate degree, and she got it after me. I did it all for my personal satisfaction and career development. It never occurred to me to make a big deal over it and send announcements or even expect others to care. The only person to give me a gift was my husband and I was ok with that.

Down the road, it's just a piece of paper and some letters.

 

[okeydokey]

I didn't send out announcements for my BA or my MA. My parents got me a gift, but nobody else really did and that was fine. I can't remember if there were cards, it was a long time ago.

 

[shortbun]

Since no one in your family has accomplished a Masters, they don't know the protocol. I would be a bit miffed but I think you need to do the work needed to brush it off.

That said....Congratulations on your degree!!! It's a lot of hard work and a real personal achievement!!

 

[luvsJack]

I think its kind of sad that we don't recognize the hard work a working, married with children adult puts into advancing their degree. Its not easy.

I am in school now and it is very time consuming and very hard work. You sacrifice a lot to be there. My co-worker will soon have her PhD. She started at this college as a secretary and no degree and then her husband died leaving her with 3 small children. She began slowly earning a degree and has slowly but surely continued with 2-3 classes every semester until she will now be exactly where she wanted to be. Not sure about anyone else, but when she earns that degree--I will buy her a gift, get her a card and have flowers sent! Her kids (1 grown, 1 in college, 1 in high school) are planning to send her on a cruise. Advanced degrees deserve recognition.

 

[kimmar067]

If I completed grad school without my siblings or family saying something, it would upset me. Congratulations, that is a wonderful accomplishment! If you don't mind me asking, what is your Master's in?..

...I received my masters a few years ago, and I didn't really get any fanfare either (PLUS the fact that I was in my forties at the time, and a wife and mother of 3 older boys)....other than the congrats I got from my DH, my boys, and my mom and M-in-L, there was no 'hoopla' - yes, while it may be disappointing to not even get a simple acknowledgement (I too am first in my famiy to received a Bathelors' AND Master's degree) deep down I know that I did it for ME, and I am proud of my own accomlishment....

BTW ~ CONGRATS!

 

[dismom2]

I just wanted to say Congratulations, Op! I know how hard it is to do what you did. Treat yourself to something fun and special.

 

[Pakey]

I don't even think my parents got me anything when I received my Masters. My husband and son were the only ones at the ceremony. I'm huge on personal accomplishment but not much for personal recognition, so I never gave it any thought.

OP, congratulations.

 

[Kathi OD]

When DD graduated from college with her Bachelor's, she participated in the graduation, but made it quite clear she did not want a party or have anyone make a big deal out of it. Her dad and I took her and her boyfriend to dinner and gave her a gift. I don't think anyone else even mentioned it to her.

Fast forward a couple of years and she's earned her Master's. Didn't walk in that ceremony, but she's the first person on both sides of the family to get a Master's degree. We threw the biggest party ever! She was so appreciative.

I'll never downplay the hardwork and accomplishment that an educational diploma or degree of a family member represents again. I don't care if they're getting their fourth doctorate.

 

[DawnM]

I agree. I would be a bit put out that someone expected something of me.

If I sent out something for each graduation (high school, college, grad school, etc....) I would be broke.

High school is the only one I send anything for.

BTW: I have two MAs and didn't send out anything for either.

Dawn

I view that as a personal accomplishment, not something that I need to send something for.

 

[Sanchez]

I think its kind of sad that we don't recognize the hard work a working, married with children adult puts into advancing their degree. Its not easy.

I am in school now and it is very time consuming and very hard work. You sacrifice a lot to be there. My co-worker will soon have her PhD. She started at this college as a secretary and no degree and then her husband died leaving her with 3 small children. She began slowly earning a degree and has slowly but surely continued with 2-3 classes every semester until she will now be exactly where she wanted to be. Not sure about anyone else, but when she earns that degree--I will buy her a gift, get her a card and have flowers sent! Her kids (1 grown, 1 in college, 1 in high school) are planning to send her on a cruise. Advanced degrees deserve recognition.

No one is saying that it is easy, but who are the ones that should provide recognition? I am sure that you and your co-worker are working hard but it is for your benefit, not your relatives, friends and society as a whole.

I see sending announcements as nothing more than a gift or attention grab. Celebrate with your immediate family and let it go. Let's face it, your degree, my law degree, and your friend's doctorate aren't all that impressive to some and it is not incumbent on them to recognize personal achievements of others. It is great if some want to offer recognition, but I cannot hold it against those that do not.