Crying Over My Diploma

And just like that, I am now a college graduate. I have to say, it is strange. No more classes, no more homework, and no more studying...ever. Unless I decide to get my master's of course, but that will be a ways down the road.

First off, I feel so blessed and loved by all the support I received from my family and friends. I am so grateful that Dillon was able to be there for my graduation. My parents and brothers also flew down from North Dakota, my sister was home from college, my uncle, godparents, god-siblings(?),  grandma, and best friend all came. I truthfully didn't understand why so many people wanted to come just to see me walk across a stage, but I am so thankful for all of them.

Excuse my extreme whiteness...

I am sooo happy that I met this girl nearly four years ago in freshman year Spanish class. We took a class together almost every semester after that, as well. I am also so happy that we were able to graduate together! I didn't know very many people who were graduating in December, so I am so happy we were able to graduate and sit together during the ceremony.

I was actually really nervous to walk across the stage. Estacia and I kept joking that one of us was going to trip on stage, but thankfully that didn't happen to either of us. We walked across the stage to the cheering of our adoring fans ;) and were ecstatic afterwards.

Afterwards there was food and drinks available (but no open bar...seriously?!?) and I had the chance to take a picture with all the wonderful people who came to support me.

I think you already know who this handsome man is. ;)

My best friend and roommate Becca and her fiance (at the time, NOW husband!).

Uncle Cary

My amazing parents who have supported me through this whole crazy college experience.

My lovely family!

My godmother and two of her children, let's just call them my cousins!

Dillon and his mama! She is such a sweet woman and has welcomed me into her family, so I was so happy she was able to come and see me graduate. 

My siblings...we're just so cute.

In the evening my grandparents threw me a small graduation party and my relatives who couldn't make it to my graduation came to celebrate with me.

My grandma was at my graduation but my grandpa couldn't make it, but I was SO thankful for the party they threw me!

Oh cousins.

These GORGEOUS flowers came from my best friend Jamie. She couldn't make it since she lives in Texas, but it was So sweet and unexpected of her to send me these flowers to congratulate me and let me know she was thinking of me.

It was an amazing day and night. But now...I'm a college graduate. I work, sleep, eat, and cry over my diploma.

"What Will You Do After You Graduate?"

Ah, the question of my life. Any of you have this experience? I feel like it's impossible to have a conversation with someone without them asking me what I was doing after I graduated. At first it bothered me because I had no idea. To be honest, I was pretty embarrassed. I was yet another college kid who paid all this money to go to a four-year college but had no idea what they were doing with their lives afterwards. Wouldn't it just be perfect if the day of your graduation someone gave you a list of five jobs and told you to pick the one you liked the most, and that's what you did? Yeah...that would be the life.

Now that I actually know what I'm doing after I graduate I still get a little embarrassed. I know some people will look at me and think of me as lazy, unable to get a "big girl job," etc. But the truth is that I am actually really excited to be doing what I am. At the end of September I got a second job. I'm essentially a nanny, but one of the kids I work with has autism. A few weeks ago she asked me what I thought about working with him full-time after I graduated. I hadn't really thought about it before that. I was applying to jobs and interviewing with companies like a good soon-to-be-college-graduate should. But when she asked me this, I couldn't help but think that it was a great opportunity. Currently I am only looking for a job until May of 2014. I figured it might be hard to get a good full-time job knowing that I would want to be quitting in the near future. I want a job that is pretty relaxed so that I can still see Dillon on three-day weekends and such. And this just seems like the perfect job for me. I have already been working with the family for about two months, so it will be a pretty comfortable transition into a full-time job. Plus, this job will pay more than some of the other jobs I had originally looked into. And even though it isn't with a company, who is to say that this isn't a "big girl job?" The other jobs I was wanting were essentially the same thing; working with people with special needs, but it was with a company instead. You can see I get a little defensive about it. I am nervous for people to judge me or look down on me because it's not "what you're supposed to do after you graduate." But I really think I'll be happy with this, and I think that is all that should matter.

Have you been through a similar experience? What was your first job after college?

That Time I (Graduated from High School)

So yeah...it happened!

Three years ago, people.

And now in 121 days, I'll be graduating college.

I have been having way too many panic attacks about this.

So let's go back to when things were simple.

I graduated high school, and I thought I was on top of the world.

The pearl necklace I'm wearing was a graduation gift from my Auntie Lee Anne. She gave me a pearl for Christmas every single year, and then surprised me with this gorgeous necklace!

 This was a surprise scrapbook that my mom put together for me! A lot of my family and friends each made a page for me, including pictures and a letter. It was the sweetest gift I could have ever asked for, and I know I will always cherish it.

 Me and the siblings. I cannot believe how young we all look!!

My gorgeous best friend, Morgan did my hair and make up for the big day. :)

And that's all folks!

Excuse me as I go cry in a corner wishing I could go back.

Alex @ Let Life Be Like Music

^^You know you want to^^