Graduation

My excuse for not posting in a while? School. This semester was heinous, in terms of workload, but was also quite rewarding. I won't go into details, but let's just say I didn't mind leaving the last post about the RMP Award up for a while....it was a good one to let sit at the top anyway while I struggled through and slogged towards graduation.

And now thanks to all the hard work I have graduated with my Master's degree in City and Metropolitan Planning from the University of Utah. Hurrah!

Getting ready:


Brad's mom and my sister helping:


Brad and I, showing off the hood that supposedly makes us stand out from the undergrads. Kinda funky:


Brad, Alan, Sandy, and I. Yes I have giant eyelashes on, and purple hairspray, to match the purple of my hood:


My "little" sister Jeanette and I (she'll be getting her master's in forensics next year...I'm so proud!):


My professor Caitlin and I - the boa (you've GOT to have flair at graduation!!!) got added after the family pictures were taken:


The graduating master's class of 2009:




The infamous "West Side Studio" ... the class that nearly broke us. We survived, and look how happy we are:


And, I got a surprise at graduation...and won an award...


...well, it wasn't 100% a surprise, but I had no confirmation until the ceremonies. I got a hint from one of our County Councilors, whose husband is a U professor of Engineering, when she said "Congratulations, I hear you're getting an award."


To which I replied, "Really?"


To which she replied "Oops....never mind."


So more specifically what does the award mean? Up until this last semester, I had maintained a 4.0...don't ask me how 'cause I have no NO idea, but I assume the award has to do with that.

After missing 3 weeks this semester to race in Europe, and being so overloaded with the West Side Studio class and work, I really figured the GPA was toast. Done. Gone. Sayonara.

Turns out it wasn't, and I graduated top of my class. When final grades were posted this week showing the 4.0 I very nearly cried. I did have to sit down actually....

But back to graduation. When I walked off the stage, Brad was there and he picked me up and spun me around....then I really DID cry. Mixture of sadness and relief and happiness and achievement.