I am sad. I am sad because I am finished with school.
You see, this past Friday, I graduated. Which is great and happy and all, but I’m gonna miss my university and my professors and my friends so much!!
This last semester has been so crazy busy. I’ve been student teaching and taking my teacher certification tests and taking my very last Spanish course. Swamped. I’ve felt swamped and stressed out.
But now it’s over and I’m sad.
Since I’m a big sentimentalist, I’m going to reflect a little over graduation and share some pictures. I rarely share personal stories and pictures here on Joy Because Grace, so I hope that’s alright with you :)
Flashback to Freshman Year-
Firstly, here is a picture of my friends and me on the very first night of Welcome Week, back when we were little freshmen. We were scared to move off to college. We were worried we wouldn’t make friends. And we were nervous about classes.
Graduation Practice-
And now here’s me and the girl who is second from the right in the picture above. We were graduating together, and we happened to only be two people away from each other in the lineup :) Yay for a friend to talk to!!
This picture was taken on Thursday, during graduation practice.
The graduation practice was expected to last from 3 to 5 on Thursday afternoon. It finished up around 4:15.
Also, it snowed this day! As I was driving back to campus from the graduation location, little dandruff-like white flakes floated down from the sky. I kinda freaked out- this was the first time I had ever driven in the snow. Unfortunately, it wasn’t cold enough for the snow to stick, but for me, any snow is pretty exciting. Central Texas doesn’t get snow much at all.
Pinning-
After graduation practice, I grabbed a hot chocolate at the campus Starbucks, and then went straight to a small chapel on campus.
Every semester, the education department has a pinning ceremony- where each of the graduating education majors or minors get “pinned” by a professor. (The pin was attached to a ribbon, and they slipped it around us like a necklace to save time.)
Pinning was pretty much like a mini-graduation, but just for the education peoples. There weren’t very many of us education majors/minors, so it went quickly. It was a very sweet moment between us and our professors, and it was a great way to say goodbye to everyone. #Bittersweet
My college advisor, who was also one of my favorite Spanish professors, pinned me :)
Afterwards, there was a mini-reception with cookies and punch. I got pics with my parents, my boyfriend, Caleb, and some of my professors.
Graduation Day-
Friday dawned bright and sunny, which was a stark contrast to the cold and cloudy day before.
I had to be at the graduation center by 11:00 a.m. Super early, considering that graduation started at 1:00.
Once I got there, I found my place in line (I was number 176 out of 470 graduates), pinned my graduation hat to my head, and waited. And waited. And waited some more. Thankfully, several of my friends who were graduating were in line by me, so we could chat and take pictures while we were waiting.
FINALLY, it was time for graduation to start!
Confession, I hate graduations. I think they are super boring. I always read through them. Soooo… I may or may not have snuck a copy of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis into graduation, and read it while other people were graduating…. ;)
Anywho. Graduation happened. I walked across the stage. Shook hands. Got an empty diploma case (the diploma will be mailed to me in a few weeks). Didn’t trip. #Success.
The blur you see above is me graduating LOL :)
After graduation, my parents hosted a small graduation party at our house. Here are a few pics…
And then my brother had a basketball game, so he and my parents left to go to that, and I had a lovely evening home alone, crocheting while watching TV. :)
So that’s the end of my story about graduation.
Thanks for reading along :)
Until next time,
Kara Beth
P.S. If you’re in high school or college right now and have any questions specifically about college, feel free to drop your questions in the comments below. I’m thinking about writing a few college-related posts in the near future and would love to address questions you have in the posts. Thanks, friend!
P.P.S. If you haven’t taken the end of the year reader survey yet and would like to, you can do so here. :)
Rebecca Schallon
I’m sorry you were feeling a little sad. Changes like that are pretty weird. But I bet if you just keep working hard and trusting God, things will be good. <3 Thanks for being such an inspiring example!
Q
Congratulations!!!! on Graduating College! What advice do you have for a College Junior who is pursuing a minor in Secondary Education but, is also concerned about taking and passing the PRAXIS exam?
Kara Beth Post author
I took the TExES PPR exam, which is specifically for Texas teachers, but I bet the gist of the tests is the same. My education classes were designed to help us pass this exam so studying and paying attention in those classes was super helpful for me. Before I took my certification test, I reviewed the major themes that my professors had told me would be on the test (laws, classroom management practices, curriculum design, state standards, parent/teacher relationships, etc.). I also took a practice test and that helped me know which areas I was strong in and where I needed to keep studying. I hope that helps a little. Sorry I can’t be more specific since I didn’t have to take the PRAXIS exam :/
Let me know if you have more questions :)
Theresa
This is so exciting! I can’t believe I only have two more semesters before I’m done too! Time is flying!
Kara Beth Post author
Ooh that’s so exciting!! :)
Allison - All Things Allison Marie
I loved reading this! Congrats on graduating!!
Kara Beth Post author
Thanks Allison :)
Maggie
Thanks for sharing your graduation story! I am college freshman and it’s cool to hear about the end result! =)
Kara Beth Post author
My pleasure!! Enjoy your college journey Maggie! :)