July 7th 2023.
Danielle Greene was ecstatic when she recently graduated from her Stanford Ph.D. program with a degree in education. Centering her studies around race and inequality in education, she was looking forward to celebrating this amazing accomplishment. What she didn't see coming was the gift her best friend and freshman-year roommate, Liz Powell, had in store for her.
In December 2022, Liz had texted Danielle about setting up a gift registry in her name. Danielle was hesitant at first, as she had only associated registries with celebrations for marriage or pregnancy. Liz, however, was determined to show her support and encourage Danielle's hard work and dedication.
"We had a really good, genuine conversion about how there are other significant thing[s] that happen in your life that you need support for from your community. It's about transitions in your life, moving forward to the next stage," Danielle said. "A doctorate is one of those things."
Danielle had been working hard on her studies for the last five years, and Liz wanted to help her celebrate in the best way she could. Along with another friend and Liz's fiancé, Liz set up the registry and distributed it to everyone who RSVP'd to Danielle's defense.
When Danielle shared the news on Twitter, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Even though some didn't understand the intent, Danielle believes launching registries can be a great way to celebrate any life achievement. She explained to Good Morning America how the registry has sparked conversations about how women should be able to celebrate other milestones beyond marriage and babies.
"I want to be clear that when we were talking about it...we were in conversation about how often women are thought about in relationship to other people, whether it's as a caretaker, as a mother, or as a wife. It's not necessarily a reward or anything like that, but it is an acknowledgment that your life is changing and your people want to be a part of that community and support you."
Danielle Greene's graduation was made all the more special by her best friend's thoughtful gesture. It's a reminder of the power of having people who support you and a reminder that women can and should celebrate their life accomplishments.
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