Graduate from College

Complete- Drop # 10- Graduate from College

Something that was on both my life list and on 25 before 25 was graduating from college. Although I still have graduate school in my future, I did earn my bachelor's degree!

Overcoming Challenges
      Being pregnant my senior year, I was unsure of whether I was going to be able to:

1. Walk and
2. Get my GPA above a 3.5.

      When getting my Associate degree I had graduated with a 3.8 GPA. So, I was disappointed in myself when the transition from community college to university did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. I calculated my likelihood of graduating from Clark with a 3.5 or better. I needed straight A's my final semester. An A- would mean failure. It seemed like a fat chance.

      Not only did I actually get straight A's my final semester, Lela's procrastination in escaping the womb meant that I was able to attend my graduation. I honestly hadn't planned on going- I was sure I would be in labor by then. I hadn't even picked up my cap and gown! On May 20th I woke up pregnant, so we headed up to Clark. Looks like I was walking after all!

Baking the Turkey

     I was excited- until I put on my cap and gown. It almost immediately became clear that a graduation ceremony on a nearly 90 degree day was hardly an appropriate place for a pregnant woman. I was wearing way too many layers, soaking up the rays with my lovely black gown, and packed together with hundreds of other graduates. I felt like a stuffed thanksgiving turkey covered in tinfoil and left to roast in the oven.

     When it came time to accept my degree, I could barely move. Nor could I keep up with the rest of the line. I tried to act as un-pregnant as possible. I jumped out of my chair way too fast and pulled a muscle in my leg. Now I became bloated pregnant turkey with a limp. Awesome. I waddled across the stage to accept my degree and eagerly went back to my chair to start stripping off my layers. It was way too hot for this formal nonsense.

     My parents had flown up from Texas for Lela's birth, so it was a bonus for them (and me) that they were able to also watch me graduate from Clark. Vinh's mother and sister were also able to come. Although I was very happy that I had the support, the last thing I wanted to do was to put the turkey tinfoil back on and take staged pictures. Let's just say that by the time this picture was taken, I was not a happy camper. Shortly after this picture I refused to put the cap back on. I was dried out and overcooked..

     Despite the heat, I was glad I was able to walk. Attending school at Clark was a great experience and- despite being a pregnant, bloated mess- it is nice to have pictures of the event.

Welcoming in 2012

     I am very eager to welcome in 2012. Goodbye 2011, and good riddance. To properly welcome in 2012 it only feels appropriate to recap my accomplishments of 2011, few as they may be!

     Going in to 2012, my expectations for what I am going to accomplish on this list are not incredibly high. If I were to write out my list of what I hoped to accomplish on this list, however, it would look something like this:

#7- Have a Child. If this didn't happen in 2012 I would be awefully concerned.

#16 & #18- Grow my hair so that it touches the top of my buttocks and then cut it and give it to a hair charity. It should be plenty long enough by the end of 2012, and hopefully by then I can just chop it off and have it short for a while

#10- Graduate from College. Again, would be very concerned if this didn't happen

#46- Get in to Graduate School. Here's hoping!

Honestly, anything else will be a bonus. Low expectations for 2012 as far as quantity, but for sure the quality of what I expect to be crossing off my list this upcoming year is superb :-).

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Update: Drop # 38: Get Rid of this Horrible Acne Once and for All! (as well as reference to drops 13, 28 and 38)

     I am not about to post any before/after pictures or anything like that... And all you lovely negative people who are holding back secret feelings of schadenfreude at my misfortunate skin, keep your mouths shut! Ever since I stopped working at my previous job, my skin has taken an almost immediate turn for the better. It's kind of amusing, really. I am assuming that the stress from working at that place had quite an impact on me. Although it isn't clear all the way, I am positive that there was no way of repairing or trying to get rid of the stress-reduced acne except, of course, reducing the stress. And, I am also convinced that there was no reducing the stress and strain that my previous job put on me without simply not working there anymore.

     On a somewhat related note, although it was not necessarily my choice to leave my previous job (although I could easily argue it was, and I can present such argument if anybody would care to hear. I'll just assume at this point that nobody really does), not working there anymore has really injected an incredible amount of positiveness and productivity in to my life. If I was still working there is a good probability that I would not have had time to start my garden (which I did this past sunday), do half the papers I have had to turn in, or start my volunteer job I have going on now. Really, the acne relief is an unexpected benefit. The benefit to my schoolwork alone is enough to be satisfied.

     But, enough about all this. Let me just sign off this week by stating that the main source of my unwanted acne has been eliminated. With a little bit of acne medication and perhaps an increase in my consumption of water, hopefully it will clear up...!

... Just don't STRESS ME OUT! :-)