Today I Am A Graduate.....Again

Two years of hard work, sleepless nights, and stress headaches are over with today. Graduation Day. Several months ago, when I put in the paperwork to apply for graduation, I didn't think I would want to participate in the ceremony today. I went through all of it ten years ago when I graduated college the first time. But then I thought...Why not? I've worked hard for this. Even harder than I did the first time, because this time I have a husband and child, a mortgage, and a better understanding of the real world I was going to school to prepare myself for. I deserve to celebrate a little bit. I deserve to celebrate a lot.

It was different than I thought it would be. The excitement of the first-time graduates was contagious. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life this time. I was more proud of myself and my accomplishments. Plus, this time, I didn't have a tremendous hangover from going out drinking with my friends the night before. And I didn't fall asleep during the ceremony this time, either. Also, I got to come home and relax instead of hurriedly trying to pack up my apartment so my friends and family could take my things back home with them since the guy I sublet my apartment to wanted to move in that day. (I did learn the importance of pre-packing that day - the next time I moved, my stepfather said he was going straight home if everything wasn't already in boxes, ready to go on the truck.)

The only bad part of the day was when I lost the stole I bought to wear over my robe so it would add some color to the drab outfit. After the ceremony, you were supposed to give it to someone who had supported and encouraged you throughout your education. It even came with a card and a gold seal you could present to that person. I was going to give it to my mom and stepdad because of everything they did to help me go to school. They paid for daycare for my son, helped with tuition, and told me how proud they were of me all the time. I can't believe I lost it! I was carrying it over my arm with my robe so I wouldn't get everything all wrinkled by wearing it until just before the ceremony, and it slipped off without my noticing it. Ugh!

Other than that, it was a pretty cool day. The main speaker promised us he would be brief. His daughter was part of our graduating class, and she told him whatever he said in his speech, he'd better say it quickly. He did. The president of the school was not as kind. She said some sweet things, but by the time she had welcomed everyone and made her opening remarks, the main speaker had done his thing, everyone's name had been called and we all walked across the stage and sat back down again, and all the songs had been sung, we were ready to go. Thanks to the fates and the alphabet, I was sitting in the back of the auditorium with a rowdy group that straddled the line between disrespect and funny. Every time she said she wanted to make a few last comments, which she said several times, they would moan and try to come up with ways to get her off the stage. Since this was the second graduation ceremony of the day (in order to accommodate all the graduates and their families in one facility, there had been another ceremony in the morning), we thought she would have been tired and ready to go, too. But she announced she was stepping down as president, so I guess she wanted to make the most of her last graduation.

Anyway, I find it hard to believe that it's all over. It only took me two years to get this degree, but at times it seemed like it wasn't going to happen at all. I've been going non-stop since August of 2003, and I'm not sure I remember what it's like to not have a class to go to, or a paper to write, or a test to study for. But I'm sure going to enjoy finding it out again.
Happy summer, everyone!