On Life and Being a 29-Year-Old Graduate

Well, it's been 16 months since my last post, and as of yesterday, I'm now a college graduate.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of the sweet, supportive comments, calls, and texts regarding my graduation. It means the world to me. I may be a bit late to the college graduation game, but I don't regret my journey leading up to this point. I've done a lot of moving, traveling, exploring, thinking, learning, and soul searching over the past 10 or so years, and I've changed my mind more times than I care to count. (I'm a bit flighty, what can I say?)I didn't exactly take the "normal" route through life, and sometimes I really, really regretted that, but here's something I know now for sure: you're never "too old" to go back to school, start a new career, pick up and move, change your life, start over, or truly follow your dreams.

I've worked really hard to get here, and while I'm so relieved it's all finally over, it's feeling pretty bittersweet, too. I've made so many amazing friends in Seattle since deciding to go back to school (you know who you are!), and without their support, and the support of my friends back home, and my wonderful boyfriend, Adam, and my incredible boss who so willingly worked around my class schedule each quarter, and my parents who listened to me cry and whine over studying and exams and cheered me on every step of the way... I don't think I'd be here today. So thank you. I love you all more than words can say.

It's only appropriate I share this quote from Tommy Boy; one of my all-time favorite movies:"Did you hear I finally graduated?""Yeah, and just a shade under a decade, too...""You know, a lot of people go to college for seven years.""I know. They're called doctors."

:) So while I may not be a doctor, I'm still proud of myself for actually making the tough decision to go back and finish what I started so long ago. So thank you, again, for all of your support. I mean it! You're all beautiful and I'm so fortunate to have you in my life. <3 <3 <3

"May your hats fly as high as your dreams!" - Michael Scott