Dr. Carter announced that I had accepted a fully funded doctoral position at the University of Pennsylvania, working with a Penn Medicine research team studying neurodegenerative disease. Tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend were included. My undergraduate research had also earned additional fellowship support. I would be moving to Philadelphia in six weeks. Dad stared at the stage as though someone had switched languages halfway through the ceremony.
Afterward, my family suddenly surrounded me. Mom wanted photographs. Claire asked why I had kept something “this huge” secret. Julian actually suggested we celebrate at the expensive restaurant he liked. Then Dad placed his hand on my shoulder and told Dean Whitaker, “We always knew Hannah was special.” I looked at him but said nothing.
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