Commencement, The Beginning

Well, it was commencement today!!!  While I actually graduated back in December, the JC only has one Commencement Ceremony each academic year.  It was actually a pretty sweet day!

(By the way, this is the most picture rich post I've ever created, so my apologies, but at the same time, who cares!  Haha.)

This is me before the procession from the auditorium to the athletic center. (The gold cords are for graduating magna cum laude, the blue cords are for graduating as a service learning scholar, and the medal is for my service as a JC Ambassador.)

So, I actually really, really like all of the traditional ceremonial shiz associated with the commencement ceremony.  It's weird, but I really think it's cool.  I loved the procession, and being able to see all of my professors decked out in all of their Academic Regalia was way fun.

Me, my best friend Whit, and my best friend Davey during the Processional.

This is what it looked like from the head of the line.  The students all split in two lines and applaud the faculty while they march through us.  Later, the faculty split in two lines and applaud the students.

The head of the faculty line.

Two of the Theatre Professors marching.  Head of technical theatre on the left, and head of acting on the right.  They are seriously my favorites!

The Governor of Utah was the Commencement speaker this year, which was a real honor, and despite my worries, his speech wasn't boring at all!

Me and Whit after commencing and receiving our "degrees".  

(The folder that your degree will one day go in...haha.)

Me, Fa'ah, Whit, and the other KW at the reception following graduation.

My Ambassador Family!  I'm going to miss all of these people sooooo much!!

(Not everyone was there for the picture...but here are part of us anyway.)

In a nutshell, Commencement was way, way fun!  I had a fabulous time walking with some of my best friends ever, and the feeling of happiness and accomplishment has been so intense.  I've been contemplating all the memories I have of my friends over the past two years at the Junior College, and I seriously feel so blessed.  My friend Nick was co-Valedictorian, and his speech was funny.  The governor delivered a very nice address discussing the future of Junior College, and it was very inspirational.  Even the speech from "President Wilford Woodruff" was good.  ;)  

After the reception in the student center I went to lunch with the family, and it was just overall a fabulous day.

The past year has been sooooo amazing!  It is really crazy to look back and see how much you have grown over a year.  One year ago I had no intention of graduating this spring, and I had no intention of  being at the Junior College this year (and here I am planning to attend a third year...What the Crap!?  Haha.).  Life is very interesting, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  :)