A Proud Father, a Night of Honor, and a Loss That Touched Many

he applause hit me all at once—sharp, thunderous, impossible to ignore. As I finished the final line of my defense, years of exhaustion fell away in a single breath. The late nights, borrowed money, cramped rooms, and constant doubt suddenly felt justified. I had made it.

People rushed forward with handshakes and congratulations, but my eyes searched only one place—the back of the auditorium.