Eve of Commencement

I've been thinking about how I would form my words and if I should even post for about a week now. The fact is, I can't believe I'm actually about to type what I am and tomorrow, experience what I will.

Tomorrow I graduate from college. I have earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Fashion Merchandising. Tomorrow I will be getting a diploma with my name on it. It's something that no one can ever take away from me. My education. Mine, all mine.

I am a planner, I am the person who plans everything. I am the person who probably more than others looks forward to the night before a big event as much as the event. Tonight, is my night as much as tomorrow will be my day.

The night before big life events is something I really enjoy. It's a time to reflect, a time to plan, a time to be proud and a time to look at whats ahead and get excited. It's also a time to be nervous, scared and worried, but I have found that those feelings and thoughts are quickly getting trumped by my excitement for what tomorrow holds for me.

Because, this time tomorrow I will have a college degree. In a major that I love, that I have passion for and excites me everyday. I will have an education. I am a woman, with a college education. Many many years ago, that was unheard of, but I am proud to say that I have a college education.

It hasn't always been the easiest of roads that I have chosen but it has been the most rewarding. Sometimes it really sucked, sometimes I wanted to give up, sometimes I chose things over my coursework, sometimes I played hooky to catch up on shows with my best friend instead of attending lecture. But more times than I thought have I  found myself captivated by what I was learning. To be able to then apply it to my work life and everyday life. Tomorrow I will be a graduate.

There will be many things that I will miss about the last four years. Too many to name, to be completely honest. But there are more things that I am looking forward to... In my four years as an undergraduate I have learned more than I ever could have imagined about myself, about life, and mainly my career path. Some of the things I expected to learn, some I fought against, and some I didn't know I was even learning them until a situation presented itself where I needed to apply my knowledge. Some I still have yet to learn, because I believe we truly never stop learning.

I'm not sure who originally said this or where it even came from, but I have heard that education is what sets you apart from the rest, that knowledge is power. I believe this, right down to my core, do I believe this. We are all human, we were all made the same way, we all entered the world the same way, but what we did with our lives sets us apart from one another. Now I'm not saying I'm better than anyone, because I'm not, no one is better than anyone, but I have something that only a few have, its something to be proud of. Tomorrow I will be a graduate.

As the clock keeps ticking closer to my time, my time to shine...I find myself wrapping up on my reflections. I'm finding myself filled with emotions all of the positive emotions. I am so proud of myself. Tomorrow I will be a graduate.

I want to give a huge thanks to some of my closest supporters:

My Mom, Judy and Step Dad, Tim for pushing me everyday to go to school and showing me how important education is, for supporting me, for pushing me to be the best version of myself, and offering me advice on everything whether I have asked for it or not, and for putting me through college. Mom, I want to say thank you for EVERYTHING, but for also letting me cut up, paint, draw and complete all my projects on the kitchen table, when I can I will buy you a new table, I promise. Thank you for being the best parents, I hope I have made you proud.

I want to thank my sister, Jackie for her support and for pushing me making me look at the big picture, for always offering a hand when I need her for life or school, and for being the best big sister I could have asked for. I hope I have made you proud.

I want to thank the love of my life, Daniel. For teaching me about life and supporting me through all of it, for patiently sitting beside me as I have completed coursework instead of doing other things because I left something until last minute, some nights you literally watched paint dry but you were always a comedic relief and my support system. Thank you for being the best boyfriend. I hope I have made you proud.

I want to thank my brother in law, Mike for always being honest about how the work world truly works, for giving me advice when I ask and for being the brother I never had. Thank you for it all, I hope I have made you proud.

I want to thank my grammy, Gloria for being my support system, for letting me know how important education is and when I failed my accounting course and had to take it over 3 times (that class is no joke. study people!) you were the first to quickly come to my rescue and offered to be my personal tutor. I thank you for all of it. I hope I have made you proud.

Last but not least, I want to thank my friends. You all know who you are, you are all very important to me. I want to thank you for your endless support, in life and with school. Thank you for the moments we have shared, the trips we have gone on, the secrets we have shared, the venting sessions that may happen planned or unplanned, the much needed happy hours, cram sessions and skipping class dates. I want to thank you for allowing me to grow and standing beside me as I go through this journey, we have all gone through it together. I hope I have made you proud.
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To the graduating class of 2014:

We did it! We actually did it. The stress, the cram sessions, the laughter, the projects and assignments have brought us to this day. Our day. Today, we are graduates. We are the class of 2014. For some the road was bumpy, for others it was smooth. However our journey was we all get the privilege to say, "I belong to the class of 2014, I am a college graduate". The next chapter of our lives is about to begin. Some of us have things lined up, some may not. But it's life. It's our life. We have earned this life. We are graduates. Although one chapter is closing and another is opening it is one of the best chapters to begin, because we have the rest of our life to be shining, to be amazing, to show why we are the class of 2014. We are superstars. We are smart. WE ARE THE CLASS OF 2014!!!!

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2014.

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to the best Mother out there, my mama bear. Thank you for being my support system, my best friend, my advice line, my partner in crime, my shopping buddy and for just being you. 

I am so proud to call you Mom. Thank you for teaching me all that you have. Here are a few of my favorite life lessons you have taught me, shown me or told me over and over until I got it. 

1) Thank you for showing me that if you work for something you really want it will pay off. It has taught me to not give up.

2)Thank you for always being the parent that was and still always is there. Even when you got sick. It has taught me about loyalty and love.

3) Thank you for being a full time working 3rd grade teacher. It has taught me that as a woman you can do it all and still help others. We run this world! 

4) Thank you for telling me to keep the flame down low when I cook. It has taught me to be cautious and aware. 

5) Thank you for always pushing me and believing in me. It has taught me to believe in myself. 

6) Thank you for being a patient, kind, accepting, understanding and a loving person. It has taught me to be that same kind of person.

7) Thank you for teaching me to not overload the washing machine. It has shown me that if you push something too hard that doesn't want to be pushed it won't work out in the end the way you imagined. 

8)Thank you for explaining and showing to me how important it is to plan and be on time. It has made me a more organized person. Even though my bedroom is NEVER organized.

9) Thank you for making me believe there really is no stupid question and if I ever need to tell anything to anyone, it's always you first. It has taught me that asking and confiding in people will get you far. 

10)Thank you for the constant love and support. I love you so much.

11) Thank you for being you. 

Of course there are other things that you have taught me and will always continue to teach me. Thank you thank you thank you. I love you so very much, Mama Bear.