As I walk out onto the field, rain dripping off of my cap, I look out into the stands to find family and friends. This is it. I made it. It does not feel real. This has to be a dream. Orange umbrella…Erica. Mark. Aha! But where are my sisters and parents? We shuffle into our seats, a sea of black caps and gowns with an occasional person in maroon. The National Anthem. Speakers. I spot my family! Robert E. Cook. Terrible, offensive speech. Rain still dripping off my cap and the people around me. Waiting. Listening. People stand for honors. Cum Laude. Magna Cum Laude. Summa Cum Laude. Each college stands. Of course, my college is last. College of Education and Educational Technology. Yelling! As we all sit back down, it’s time for them to call our names individually to recognize all our hard work. I sit there trying my hardest to use telepathy to talk to my family and friends. Sitting down there is boring. I didn’t know anyone nearby. Finally it’s time for me to go up to the stage. “Don’t fall” echoing through my head. Thanks, Mark. I give them the slip of paper that says my name. Surprisingly, they say my name correctly. Happily, I walk over to shake the hands of the dean of my college, and then stop to take a picture with the university president, Dr. Tony Atwater. Fake smile. Walk off the stage to get another picture taken with my degree. DONE! As I walk back to my seat, I realize that I really don’t feel like sitting around listening to more speeches. I find Erica and Mark and they tell me that my family decided to go get warm and dry. Starving, we go to Subway. Hot spot for the recently graduated, I guess. We wait for our food. Still feels like a dream. It does not feel like I just graduated from college. Not real. We eat, then head to my department graduation. Zink Gym B. I find my Speechies. Family takes pictures of me real quick. I join the girls with which I spent so much of my time learning with. I spot all of my professors. I wave. This is much better. I know these people. I care about these people. This won’t be boring. Pictures. There are 4 majors in our department. Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Disability Services, Education of Exceptional Persons, and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Each major has a speaker. We sit and listen to each of the speakers and professors. Tears in my eyes, I clap. Again, it’s time to be called individually to be honored and receive our degrees. My name is called, I smile. Real smile. I shake the dean’s hand again. I stand for pictures with Dr. Stein. Takes forever. I laugh. He says, “Go show Edinboro how smart we are!” I smile again. Congratulations and carnation from Dr. Migyanka. I stand with the girls as everyone else is called. I look at the people that really care for me. The people that were there for me along the way. The people that recently entered my life, and I could never thank enough for what they do for me. In this moment, I have never been happier. Graduation 2009. I will never forget you, IUP. You are my home.

Just a little update - Yesterday I woke up to an email from the IUP Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program director saying that I had been accepted. If I would have received that email one week earlier, I would have definitely chose IUP. Ever since I accepted Edinboro's offer, I have been really excited. I need a change of scenery. IUP will always be my home, but I need something new and different. My friends Kristen and Kylei from home go to Edinboro and they asked me if I want to live with them this fall, so at least I will have somewhere to live! Plus, I love them to death, and I anticipate much fun with them. And there is always the option of visiting IUP whenever I have free time. Homecoming, APO events, Graduation, etc.
Can't wait to start this new journey.

March 19 - My SLP classmates were all excited that they were receiving emails saying that they were accepted into grad school at IUP. I can't even explain to you how defeated I felt when I did not get that email. I really felt like a failure. I know that I really shouldn't, because it was only a 1/6 chance that I got in. But I'm not used to failure or losing when it comes to academics. I was always in the top percentage in HS and graduated co-Salutatorian. So, when I am not chosen for the first round of grad school acceptances, I really feel terrible.

March 23 - Check my email and receive a message from the SLP director at Edinboro. Subject was "You've been accepted!" For a second, I struggled to read these words for what they really meant. I open the email, and yes! I was accepted at Edinboro.

My dad calls later in the afternoon and tells me that I received a letter from Clarion. I was also accepted at Clarion. The day could not get any better.

March 25 - Letter comes in the mail explaining my acceptance at Edinboro. This is the exciting part. The letter explains, "Because of your high ranking in our cohort of applicants, it is my pleasure to be able to recommend that you be offered a half-time graduate assistantship for academic year 2009-2010." I did not request an assistantship because I really hadn't planned on going there and figured I wouldn't have time if I did end up going. So, if they offered this, they must really want me to go there. ;-)

And since I did not hear back from my number one school (IUP), I thought about Edinboro's offer. It would be something new and different. I would have an assistantship that would pay for half of my tuition the first year and also a stipend. It's closer to home. The program itself is great. I don't think that I could have found anything better, and I know even if I got into IUP, they wouldn't offer an assistantship. So, this morning, I officially accepted Edinboro's offer of both admission and assistantship. I can't wait to start something new. This is going to be exciting!!!

Plus, I am part Scottish and love plaid and bagpipes. ;-)

“Life is like a hand of cards. You have to play the hand you're dealt, you can't win by folding, and sometimes you must take chances in order to win.” - Mike Connor

Birthdays have always been weird to me. Mine, in particular. I have always just felt like it was another day and that people really shouldn't go out of their way to make me feel special. But on the flip side, I feel like I never do enough for other people on their birthdays.
I guess I just have never had a good experience on my birthday. Something bad always seemed to happen on my birthday. Plus, my dad's birthday is a day before mine (today), and we always shared a cake. Maybe that's why I don't like people making mine special. I like sharing it. Because it isn't just about me. I'm weird. I know. But I really do appreciate when people do make the effort to care. :)

But yeah, tomorrow is my birthday, and I am going to try something different and enjoy it and have fun.
And don't feel obligated to wish me a happy birthday. Seriously.