It's Official!

I can't believe it! I am officially a college graduate! I finished the semester a week before graduation, everyone kept asking me how it felt to be done but it didn't feel different. That was until graduation day. I woke up two hours before I needed to and was instantly awake. I was really excited, nervous, and anxious. I have worked for years for my degree and I could not believe that the day had finally come. Taylor started off the day with a wonderful graduation gift. He handed me a Toms box, I opened it thinking I was getting another pair of Toms and to my surprise there was a beautiful blue bag inside. Not any blue bag, a Tiffany's Bag! I opened it up and inside were beautiful pearl and diamond earrings. I was so excited.  I put them in and couldn't stop looking at them. Unfortunately it didn't help my nerves.

 I was a little nervous, I ironed my gown, almost walked out the door without my cap, tassel, and stole of gratitude.  We got to the institute and it was a mad house! There was no parking and I was going to be late and I HATE being late!

     Turns out that because the general commencement went way over, the parking lot was still packed. Luckily for us we found a good spot, we went over to the Huntsman Center and finally found where I was supposed to be. The commencement for my college, The College of Social and Behavioral Science, was perfect. The dean got up and said a few things and then we had a fellow student give a ten minute commencement speech. After that they started handing out diplomas! I was glad because I did not want to sit around forever listening to people I didn't even know. My department was called up to receive our diplomas second so I had my diploma in hand very early in the commencement proceedings. I ended up leaving with my friend, Beth Swain, and going to meet our families. We went out to take pictures before half of the group got out.  (Beth and I)

     Graduating was made even more special because my little sister, Katelyn, graduated on the same day! We took pictures alone and together and with all of our families. We took pictures at the Huntsman Center (basketball stadium) and a U that was out for us. We then headed to the free lunch that my college provided (free as in I paid a lot of tuition for this but at least they didn't charge us more haha). We then headed down to President Circle to get a few more pictures, we had a ton of laughs and a great time. I was so glad that my family was with me. It was so much fun graduating with Katelyn and having a ton of pictures taken together!

Katelyn's commencement was not until 6:45, since mine was so early  (11:15) we decided to do a big dinner with everyone in between. After all the pictures we headed straight to The Old Spaghetti Factory. My family(mom, dad, Dani, all of the Dowdles, Brooke), Taylor's Family (Cherie, Brent, Grammy, Grampy, Jared, and Jesse), and the Anderton's (Katelyn's In-laws) were all there. It was a party! My parents and Taylor's parents gave me a sewing machine! I was very excited, I feel all grown up now :)

Afterwards we headed to Katelyn's commencement. This was one of the longest commencements I could imagine! They talked forever, it was 2hours before we got out of there. (They blocked the isle way so none of the students could leave early). Luckily we had taken all of the family and single pictures after my graduation, so Katelyn only had to take pictures with the Anderton's.

Everyone left after that except for us, Katelyn and Ben and my parents. We decided we hadn't had enough fun so we went to Nelson's Frozen Custard for a concrete. My parents had to leave soon after because Brooke had left her purse in their car and therefore couldn't get home until they came home. Katelyn, Ben, Taylor, and I stayed at Nelson's for 4 hours! Yes we talked outside in the freezing cold for 4hrs. We only left because Ben was freezing cold, he had his arms in his shirt and had to go to the bathroom :). It was 1 am when we got in the car, Nelson's had closed at 11 pm. We laughed and laughed, joked and talked. It was a perfect ending to a long but wonderful day.

I had a wonderful day and was so grateful that my family was there and that I got to graduate with Katelyn. I am so glad I was finally able to get my degree and fulfill my dream of getting a college degree! Thanks to everyone who helped and supported me through all the years, difficult decisions, and major changes! I could never have done this on my own! I am so glad to be done (for the most part, I go back for 2 more class next year for my Child Life Specialist Certificate), now it is time to party! :)

Here are more pictures of this awesome day :)