The last of my graduation snippets, at least until next June. I found a few of my favorite snap shots from all of my graduations and included them. All I can say is THANK GOD facebook doesn't go all the way back to high school. I'm happy to leave the "pre-makeup and straightener discovery pics" as a distance memory. No need for photo documentation of that beauty! I did however include a few favorites below, each with it's very own sentimental meaning. I'll elaborate a bit as we go, but in the meantime I did a little more digging and found just one more reflection, this one titled "What I learned from my $40000 education".
What a $40000 education has taught me:
I earned an A because I learned how to listen. I walk eagerly forward holding what I have with an open hand and a greater capacity to change and share life with people. I am confident and passionate about the women I continue to grow into. I have learned that I love because I was first loved, that I am a mess but I’m growing. I learned that passion is strength. I learned to be silly. I learned that consistency and perseverance are of great worth but equally is the freedom to let go. I learned that I could be captivated. I learned to choose faith over fear. I learned to be assertive but graceful. I learned to consistently speak the truth in love. I learned to never settle but share with that the liberty of surrender. I learned that life is about how you start each day. Being joyful is a choice. I learned to trust that I would have enough for each day. I learned that I am defined by what I have said yes to not what I have said no to. I learned to be comfortable with the “yucky” love stuff. I learned that I never was a duck, so there is no sense in getting in a row. I learned how to be intentional with people, to never be boring and to tell people how I feel about them. I learned to be grateful and daily remembered how blessed I am. I learned not to hesitate and that I was strong enough to crash. I learned how to recognize the strength in people. I learned how to follow my heart. That “life doesn’t come to us like a math problem. It comes to us like a story does, scene by scene. You wake up. What will happen next? You don’t get to know—you have to enter in, take the journey as it comes.” Most importantly, I learned not only to listen to the questions, but also to enjoy them. There is immense liberation in becoming more of myself daily and for that no grade is necessary.
I sure hope I remember all of these things next month when I cut my check to Citibank to pay back those darn student loans! Ha! or maybe more like Waaaaaa! Oh well, as much as I hate the 17th of each month for that reason, I am so grateful for the expenses experiences and wouldn't change a single thing. Cheers and happy graduation class of 2012! I hope you learn something in your next adventure and that it doesn't cost you quite $40,000! Best wishes and good luck!
1. ( 9.) What a special time that was. These are still some of my most favorite pictures ever. I'm pretty sure we finished finals on Monday night and spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between the Reef, The Buff and our crazy little Crackside Creekside Apartment (I can still smell the curry!), all in preparation to graduate naked (under our robes of course) on Friday morning! BEST.TIME.EVER. The world really was our oyster, and we had one last Boulder summer to enjoy before we really had to grow up!
2. Hands down, my most favorite job and co-workers ever! I learned more in my first year at Orange Glen than I did during all of graduate school and for that I am so thankful. It only made it that much sweeter that I worked with the best team of counselors ever. I'm still trying to replicate the fun we had. We piled into the back of "Sweet Pea" more than a few times for lunch at Rubios and Starbucks. I sure miss you guys! Darn Arnold, you just couldn't balance that budget could you?
3. One of the miracles that I've encountered as a school counselor. This is what determination and hard work look like. If you would have told me that she would be gracing the stage to pick up her diploma at the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have been convinced, but she did it!
4. Maria and Efrem, you are two of the most amazing students I've ever worked with. You had and still have so much tenacity. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity to learn from you. The world is a better place because of you both!
5. A little post MA celebration with the college roomies! I <3 you all!
6. (8.) My goodness we had fun, I'm not sure if we spent more time in class or at Nordstrom's Cafe dissecting our love lives, students and fellow colleagues. Either way it was a blast. I can hardly wait to see you all, and your new babies in a week. Thank you for so richly blessing my life!
7. I have the best cousins ever. Susan and Ed hosted me when I first moved to San Diego and I was lucky enough to gain two more "little sisters" if you will. Oh Rach, I seriously remember that you used to just come and sit on my bed and watch as I put away my laundry. This is a picture of Danica on her graduation day in 2008. I'm so proud of all that you've accomplished and can't wait to hear more about all of the great things you're doing at SDSU! Woooo! I love you and I miss you both everyday!
10. A snap shot of my swimmers, on their graduation day last year. What a fun way to start my Minnesota school counseling career.
11. Last, but of course not least, our most recent graduate Addison. Look out kindergarten, here she comes!
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