Graduation

My, what a weekend it’s been. Yet another chapter of my life has come to an end, and I now turn the page, both excited and scared to start the next one. 

On Thursday, I ate dinner and hung out with one of my friend-groups at The Lazy Dog Cafe on Katella, and it was a lot of fun. Most of the people in the group I have known for pretty much my entire time at Chapman. Over the past 4 years, there’s been some drama here and there that took its toll on certain friendships. Smaller cliques formed within the group, and some friendships were weakened, while others were strengthened. The result? A big messy web of complicated relationships that would make someone’s mind explode if they tried to untangle it.

In spite of all this complicatedness, however, I think we all knew that this would be the last time we would all get the chance to hang out together as a group ever again. And I think, deep down, none of us wanted to end it on a bad note. And I’m pretty sure we succeeded. When we look back and think of how we left everything with each other, I know those thoughts will be happy. 

ESPECIALLY (on a less serious note) since we pretty much ended the night at a bar… how can you not be happy when alcohol is involved?! I decided that we all needed to go to the bars in the Orange circle, since I pretty much hadn’t been anywhere in the circle in all the 4 years that I’ve been schooling right next to it. It’s inexcusable, really. So we had some drinks at Paul’s and spent the rest of the night drinking and dancing at The District… all I can say is that it was a VERY interesting and entertaining night. I swear, anyone who was drinking age who attended Chapman was there… while it was a fun place to spend my last night as a Chapman student due to that reason, I’m also pretty sure I won’t be heading back there again for that same exact reason lol. 

Saturday was graduation day.My family and I practically sped the entire way there, and I was mentally kicking myself for rushing to get to my own graduation. Even my friends from high school got there before I did, d’oh! All of a sudden, I get a text from Rebekah, asking me if I’m there yet and telling me that she’s going to get there at the very last minute. I tell her that I’m in the same exact position, and we laugh at the fact that we have procrastinated until the very end. Literally. When we finally get there, we line up together and are the last in our major to be called and to walk across the stage. So in a way, it was worth being almost late. =] 

The ceremony was sweet and short, although this was, at times, debatable since I was all but melting under the hot sun. When we switched our tassels to the left side, I was officially a Chapman alumnus. It’s so crazy to say! While waiting to walk towards the reception area, I was literally surrounded by friends in the science department… that’s what’s so great about graduating within one of the smallest departments (college of science) within a small school. If I had gone to a bigger school, I don’t think I would’ve been able to graduate right beside my friends like I did.

Afterward, I met up with my family. Justin and Jen, who are the most amazing friends, came to see me graduate as well! I took pictures with as many of my Psychology/science friends I could find. I also took pictures with Dr. Frisch, Dr. Dana, and Dr. Kuchenbecker, some of my favorite professors at Chapman. Talking and saying goodbye to them was so motivating and encouraging… that’s another plus about going to a small school. I got to actually personally know some of my professors. Dr. Frisch praised me for doing well in his lab, Dr. Dana called me one of his favorite students, and Dr. Kuchenbecker said “you rock!” and “you just GET IT,” referring to how well I’ve demonstrated my understanding of class material on all of her tests. She said I was more than welcome to ask her for a recommendation letter if I ever needed it. They all told me to come visit and keep in touch.

Overall, graduation comes with an entire spectrum of emotions that I am unable to express in writing, so I will make it succinct… happy, sad, excited, scared, uplifted, anxious, accomplished, driven, etc. all at the same time. I do have another 2 years of grad school though, so I’m not completely through with schooling just yet.

One thing that cannot be denied, however, is that a door behind me has been closed… but it has left before me an entire row of doors waiting to be opened. I am truly grateful for every experience I’ve had and every person I’ve met who have made an impact in my life during these past 4 years in college, big and small. Here’s to the class of 2012 and the first day of the rest of our lives!

7 hours ago  /  1 note