hh Graduation. One of the most important days of your life where you are ushered from school into the real world. Or into grad school to avoid the real world for another 2 years, as is my case. I wish I could say that it was one of the most important days of my life that I will never forget and all that emotional stuff. But really that's not me. Sure, it was really exciting and an incredible day that I will never forget but not because I walked across a stage. It was more important because it was the culmination of four wonderful years of friends, memories, and life. So we went to my favorite restaurant, Brick Street, for lunch since graduation was at night. Naturally its my family so there was a lot of ridiculousness at lunch including but not limited to my dad filming the barbershop quartet there that was singing and be overall embarrassing. Embarrassment aside, I got to have sweet potato cake (aka heaven in cake form) so my day was pretty much incredible after that. Since graduation was a few hours away and I was banned from napping (apparently four hour naps aren't always appropriate), my brother just sat and looked at espn.com while I packed. What a fun-filled afternoon. Since we wouldn't have time for actual dinner, my mom naturally packed a picnic. A full picnic. We're talking cheese and crackers, fruit, chicken nuggets, cookies, and of course champagne. Since my mom was worried about making trash she decided to bring disposable champagne glasses. Tiny little glasses whose bottoms kept falling off which she proceeded to carry across campus as we walked to take pictures. Nothing like watching your always rule-abiding momma carry champagne across your dry campus.
We took pictures. A lot of pictures. Mostly at my request because I feel the need to document my life constantly. Poor big brother had to take a ridiculous amount of photos until I was pleased with a Christmas card picture. Don't worry he's totally used to this.
So then of course we went to the actual graduation. Well they went to the stadium and I went to wait to line up and listen to a man who could not have been more monotonous. Dude, we're not listening and we're not going to listen just give it up. Its a Furman tradition for the graduates to walk down the mall from the auditorium to the stadium as they walk into graduation. Of course I was wearing heels so like any good Southern girl I walked most of the way barefoot, with lots of looks from parents lining the mall (believe they weren't my parents). So we walk into the stadium and of course all of my professors are at the front of the line of faculty. Do I remain composed and simply walk by? Of course not. I proceeded to yell "T.Cat!" very loudly at my advisor and then laugh the rest of the way down the line. Of course I was not composed- that would be so unlike me. I sat in my seat and waited listening to my friend Andrew give a hilarious graduation address and cried when Dr. Shi urged us to hold on, let go, and move on. It was rather moving but the emotions I felt were so indescribable- excitement, nervousness, pride, fear. Yeah a whole lot happened. I didn't exactly realize just how many more Bachelor of Arts degrees there were than Bachelor of Science- we looked like a small lot compared to them so I had to wait. A lot. Somehow event though it was May, it got very cold that night so by the time it was my turn to walk I was shivering. Really shivering. Ok so I wasn't shivering right when I walked across the stage- all that was going through my head was "Don't fall" and keep the daggum hat on my head. So it happened. I didn't fall. I walked across the stage. I shook Dr. Shi's hand and laughed when I passed my professors. I cheered and cried a little and threw my cap in the air (not very high though). And then just like that it was over. Four years were done and I was letting go of the Furman bubble. There were lots of hugs and squeals and cries of "I love you" but it was done, four year had passed and it was time to leave. As we walked out of the stadium I didn't really feel anything besides cold, thirst, and tired. It wasn't until I made it to the downtown celebration that I felt the importance of what had just happened and how this really would be the last time we were together. There were surprises of old friends, some tears with dear friends, and lots of laughter and a little dancing. In short it was the perfect way to end those four years and open up the door to the years ahead. Granted the next day I didn't really feel any more like an adult- probably because I was packing. A lot. Not really the ideal situation for someone who's OCD. So its all over. My years at Furman are done and now I'm an alum. I can't describe what the past four years have meant to me and the relationships I have been blessed with there. It has been the biggest things in my life, a catalyst for my personal and spiritual growth and the source of deep, abiding friendships. There were lots of laughs, some tears, crazy adventures, fountain hopping, and a hell of a lot of pictures. So here's to you Furman and all that you've brought us. Now its time to burst the bubble and enter the sort of real world.
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