The Graduate - Watching Someone Become

Story Portrait: The Graduate — Class of 2026, Sul Ross State University, Diana Guari Flores.

The same text message message twith pictures that hat brought Paco back into my life brought another surprise. Diana sent me a photograph of herself in a graduation cap and gown.

Class of 2026. Sul Ross State University.

Years ago, Diana was my roommate — always restless, ambitious and determined to move on to something bigger and better. I always rooted for her. And now there she was. The Graduate! There is something deeply satisfying about watching someone you have known across different chapters of life continue to grow, change and succeed.

So I turned the photograph into a Story Portrait:

The Graduate

Class of 2026

Sul Ross State University

Diana Guari Flores

And at the bottom:

Love Uncle Pat

Because sometimes a milestone deserves more than a quick congratulations in a text message. Sometimes it deserves to be preserved. A photograph captures the moment. A few words capture what the moment means. Together, they become part of the story.