pinch me

Did this actually happen?

It's been a long time, you guys. Ten years, actually (with intermittent breaks due to moving, emotional anguish, financial issues, travel, etc.). I can't believe I kept going back. All of the free time, and money and late nights I devoted to acquiring this little piece of paper. It's such a huge chunk of my life. I mean, how many people out there have been listening to me sing the tune of "I'm about to graduate" for the last 5 years or so? Thank you. Seriously. There were nights that I'm not sure I would have gotten through if it wasn't for the patience and understanding of those around me. Not to mention the financial help from my mom when times got tough. You guys are the real MVPs.

I don't know if it was the best idea to skip commencement. It all seems rather anti-climactic now. I keep logging into my university website and checking back to make sure my degree is still there. Maybe I read the email wrong? Maybe they are going to take it back? It just doesn't really feel like I've achieved this thing that I've worked so hard to accomplish without all the pomp and circumstance (oh yes I did). The truth is, I just didn't want to put people through a lot of trouble to feel like they needed to come (or be disappointed if they didn't), and I felt guilty supporting the environmental waste that comes from a ceremony like that. Was that dumb? Probably. Oh well, what's done is done.

Anyhoo, I did it! Yay! Yessss! Woohoo, look at me! Okay, here's my new plan. I'm going to make my own ceremony with funny hats and strangers and folders without degrees in them. I'll shake the hand of some old white guy I've never met before and mark the occasion with an 8x10 photograph to send to all of my relatives. Yeah, this sounds like the kind of ceremony I can get behind. You know what else? Drinks. You know what else? BBQ and lawn games. I'll be the invited speaker. I'll bring a tear to the eye of every damn member of the audience and then make them laugh it off with a glow in their hearts. "Oh the Places, You'll Go?" Please. Let a real graduate show you how it's done. This gal has a bachelor's degree and is not afraid to use it!

.......wow. That feels really good to finally be able to say. I have a bachelor's degree! I, Juli Keele, have a four-year degree from an accredited university which will allow me to apply for jobs that I might not otherwise have been considered for. I did it while working full-time and paying for all of the fees up front over the course of ten years and three colleges. I cried and failed and procrastinated and doubted and I still pushed all the way through and graduated magna cum laude to boot. Basically, I am a complete and total badass. Yeah. This is a good start to the weekend. Or you know, the rest of my life. :)