Dad who didn't graduate high school takes out massive billboard to celebrate son completing his Ph.D.

Achieving a Ph.D. is a remarkable accomplishment that requires years of dedication and hard work. It is no surprise that many graduates wish to celebrate their achievements with family and friends. A heartwarming post shared on Reddit by u/KBDFan42 about a father's support for his son's Ph.D. achievement has caught the attention of many. The post features a massive billboard that the father takes out to congratulate his son on completing his Ph.D. The billboard reads, "Congratulations Brandon Truett! PhD in Eng." and includes a photo of the newly-minted doctor. But what makes this gesture so meaningful is the fact that the father himself did not graduate from high school, which makes his show of support even more profound. His support demonstrates that success is not just about education or academic qualifications but it is also about the love and support of those around us.

The post captioned, "Proud dads ftw!" which garnered 1.2k upvotes till now. Many people have commented on this post saying, "Congrats, I am also the first person to go to a University in my family, I started my Ph.D. in 2018 but got diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019, survived but came out in 2020 to a global pandemic so no fieldwork was possible until mid-2022. In the end, I could not complete it. Now looking for another Ph.D. position. Finger crossed!" said reckless_mindfulness. Another user, SJSUCORGIS, said, "Congratulations, you have a wonderful Dad." "If I were that dad I'd add a typo in it just for fun," commented user, ScrambledEggs_.

Now, this might not sound like a big deal to some, but to the son, it meant the world. The young Ph.D. graduate shared his thoughts on the post on Twitter, stating, " It felt weird, maybe even futile, to celebrate my achievement at home, esp as the pandemic exacerbates an already vanishing job market. But, I gotta say, this ostentatious display of support from my Dad, who didn't graduate high school, has got me feeling proud of myself today." And that's what matters the most, isn't it? Feeling proud of oneself, no matter what the circumstances are.

The pandemic had indeed made things challenging for a lot of people who wished to celebrate their achievements with their loved ones. It was especially hard for those who had put in years of hard work to earn a Ph.D. Can you imagine finally completing your degree, only to be celebrated it over Zoom or, worse, not being able to celebrate it at all?

So here's a celebratory toast to Brandon Truett and to all the other Ph.D. graduates. Congratulations on your achievement and know that you have a community of people who are cheering you on. And to all the parents, spouses, friends and mentors who have supported these graduates along the way, thank you for showing that love and support really do matter.