Graduation

I graduated yesterday.

5 years of college.  18 years of school total--20 if you count 

joy school and preschool.

And now I'm done forever.

It's crazy how that happens, how you look forward to one

day for so long and it arrives, and then leaves just as quickly.

Jennika and I were in our photo classes together--she's having a baby two weeks after me!

Sad to see her leave Logan though.

I decided since I'll only be graduating from college once I would go to

the big commencement in the morning as well as just my college's ceremony.

We met on the quad and walked to the spectrum as a graduating class--

Travis running ahead to take photos along the way. :)

The college of the arts is apparently pretty tiny at USU and

the whole graduating class fit on the stage in 5 rows--which

made for a short program, which was awesome.

Aaaand they fed us Aggie Ice Cream after.

Here's the thing.  I didn't enjoy school all that much once I started college.  I loved learning, but

I despised homework.  I enjoyed the social life of college of course--maybe that's

even partially what kept me there.

But, counsel has been given from our prophets--gaining an education

is a commandment.  Maybe college isn't the only way to do that,

and maybe it's not the right way for everyone,

but for me, having that knowledge lead me to continue on the college path.

Even knowing that I should continue attending college, working towards graduation, I had

plenty of doubts along the way.  I remember one weekend home with my parents--I expressed

to them that I didn't really know what I was doing with my life. I had so many friends studying to

become doctors, nurses, dietitians--careers that would really help people.

I was taking art classes...with the thought that I would like to 

photograph people's weddings.  Really?  That's why you're going to 5 years of school?

But mom and dad didn't judge, they reminded me that we're all different,

and photographers are needed in this world too. 

And here I am.  Finally done attending school with a BFA in photography.

And I'm so glad.  I love what I do.

I gained so much knowledge, and not just about photography.

I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of.

I learned valuable life lessons such as time management, planning, the importance

of relationships and that sometimes you just need to stop and ask yourself, 

"will this matter in a week? A year?"

I'm glad to be done with school, and glad that I can continue to learn. :)

Excited for the next chapter of life.

35 weeks.