Graduate with my BA in Child and Family Studies from PSU.
WOO HOO! I am a mother-fucking first generation college graduate!
I spent the last several months anxiously anticipating this time of my life, and even doubting that I could get myself here. It is SO hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you are barely able to stand up and look forward. I have tested my strengths and abilities, even at one point working two jobs, volunteering and taking full time coursework, and I am so thankful to have some closure. To feel accomplished. And to be able to honor how hard I've worked these last five years, and simultaneously move on from PSU and into the rest of my life. (Which does include a lifetime of continued education.)
Yesterday was such a beautiful and hectic day! The weather was perfect, I had a great hair day, and I was so lucky to be able to spend the day with all the important people in my life. My in-law's prepared a delicious BBQ lunch for my family and myself outside in their beautiful backyard, and then we all commuted together to The Moda Center where we waited around for what seemed like hours for my 20 seconds of fame. Afterwards, we all went cosmic bowling and wound down from the day we had.
The PSU graduation was so big (over 6,000 graduates!) that they split it into two ceremonies. Even then, the ceremony took three hours. It was such a crazy feeling to be such a small part of something so big. When they played "Pomp and Circumstance" on repeat and I entered into the arena through a tunnel, I instantly heard my family call my name among the crowd and I was able to locate them right away. That was so wonderful and comforting. My family even sent in pictures and messages that were displayed on the Jumbo Tron.
The ceremony, while exciting at first, dragged on and was terribly boring! I spent my time talking with my classmates and admiring how other students had decorated their caps. Mine was Harry Potter themed, and was quite popular! People were gawking at it all day.
When the time came for me to walk across the stage, I was so focused on not tripping that I never smiled into the camera. But, who cares? I know how happy I am to have earned this degree, and to be done for the time being.
Life still feels normal. It feels uncomfortably, awkwardly and weirdly normal. I go back to work in a couple days and will spend my summer working full time and saving up money so that I can begin the next phase of my educational career: grad school! If all goes as planned, I will be attending Concordia University in January to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, where I will also receive my teaching certification. It's only a year long program -- I know I can do this! And after the year is up, I will finally be where I want to be -- running my own elementary school classroom and teaching!
Right now, I am mostly looking forward to a bit of a break, and spending my summer outside, hiking, camping, reading, laying in the grass and eating watermelon. The best really is yet to come.
I spent the last several months anxiously anticipating this time of my life, and even doubting that I could get myself here. It is SO hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you are barely able to stand up and look forward. I have tested my strengths and abilities, even at one point working two jobs, volunteering and taking full time coursework, and I am so thankful to have some closure. To feel accomplished. And to be able to honor how hard I've worked these last five years, and simultaneously move on from PSU and into the rest of my life. (Which does include a lifetime of continued education.)
Yesterday was such a beautiful and hectic day! The weather was perfect, I had a great hair day, and I was so lucky to be able to spend the day with all the important people in my life. My in-law's prepared a delicious BBQ lunch for my family and myself outside in their beautiful backyard, and then we all commuted together to The Moda Center where we waited around for what seemed like hours for my 20 seconds of fame. Afterwards, we all went cosmic bowling and wound down from the day we had.
The PSU graduation was so big (over 6,000 graduates!) that they split it into two ceremonies. Even then, the ceremony took three hours. It was such a crazy feeling to be such a small part of something so big. When they played "Pomp and Circumstance" on repeat and I entered into the arena through a tunnel, I instantly heard my family call my name among the crowd and I was able to locate them right away. That was so wonderful and comforting. My family even sent in pictures and messages that were displayed on the Jumbo Tron.
The ceremony, while exciting at first, dragged on and was terribly boring! I spent my time talking with my classmates and admiring how other students had decorated their caps. Mine was Harry Potter themed, and was quite popular! People were gawking at it all day.
When the time came for me to walk across the stage, I was so focused on not tripping that I never smiled into the camera. But, who cares? I know how happy I am to have earned this degree, and to be done for the time being.
Life still feels normal. It feels uncomfortably, awkwardly and weirdly normal. I go back to work in a couple days and will spend my summer working full time and saving up money so that I can begin the next phase of my educational career: grad school! If all goes as planned, I will be attending Concordia University in January to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, where I will also receive my teaching certification. It's only a year long program -- I know I can do this! And after the year is up, I will finally be where I want to be -- running my own elementary school classroom and teaching!
Right now, I am mostly looking forward to a bit of a break, and spending my summer outside, hiking, camping, reading, laying in the grass and eating watermelon. The best really is yet to come.
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