GRADUATION HAS COME AND GONE ~ WHY SO BLUESY?
So the graduation ceremony has come and gone. I started my day at 7:30am to leave plenty of time to get to the hotel by 9:45am. Lots of luck. I swear I must have been in slow-mo! I was running out the door at 9:25am, having just ironed my graduation gown. I had just pulled it out of the box only 5 minutes before the pressing.
It was neat seeing all of my friends in one spot for the first time in quite a while. Our schedules change up each quarter as not everyone gets the courses they want so eventually our class paths change and we only see certain classmates on a more routine basis. Lots of hugging along with the introduction of classmates to family and vice versa. Unfortunately I did not have the chance to introduce my family to some of my professors.
Just prior to the ceremony there was a sit down brunch so that the graduates would have an opportunity to mingle with family, friends, and other graduates seated at their tables. Then came the ceremony. The ceremony included graduates from both the Bachelors and Associates Degree programs. There were five awards given out amongst the 75-85 graduates. The two highest awards, the Most Likely To Succeed and the Most Creative, went to two close friends of mine at school. In fact, all five awards went to most deserving candidates. We did have a keynote speaker, but I will not mention her name as I am sure none of you would know of her other than the work she has done. Once the ceremonies were over, the class pictures were taken along with the traditional tossing of the caps.
The celebration, for most, then moved on to more personal venues with family. I went back to my sister's place where some of my family from the Bay Area were staying. Lots of chatting, a very light snack along with champagne, and then the opening of the family graduation gift to me. It was a nice leather portfolio in which I can carry my drawings and marker renderings.
After that I seemed to go into a 'funk.' I can't explain it. As you know from Friday's post, this whole graduation ceremony just seemed anti-climatic to me. I have no idea if this feeling/mood simply carried over to yesterday's graduation or not. Maybe it was the thought of all the classwork that I still have to complete within the next three-four days on projects due this week?! Maybe it was simply me beginning to wonder what lies ahead for my future? Some people thrive on the unknown. I just don't. Give me a glimpse into the future and I'd be better prepared and most likely, happier.
At 5:30pm my family took me out for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant in Dana Point (CA.). It was a nice, intimate dinner rather than a bunch of fanfare. The big shindig may come toward the end of the summer though it is still up in the air. So I managed to get through dinner but the funk was still there. I wasn't very talkative and I am sure my mom was wondering what was up. Given I was feeling a bit bluesy, I had hoped to talk to a couple of friends on the phone last night. But I guess it wasn't meant to be.
Today is another day. Time to pick up on another chaotic run of work due for this week. A special thanks to those of you who extended me well wishes on my graduation. They meant so much coming from you guys. So I leave you with some gosh awful graduation pics of me.
It was neat seeing all of my friends in one spot for the first time in quite a while. Our schedules change up each quarter as not everyone gets the courses they want so eventually our class paths change and we only see certain classmates on a more routine basis. Lots of hugging along with the introduction of classmates to family and vice versa. Unfortunately I did not have the chance to introduce my family to some of my professors.
Just prior to the ceremony there was a sit down brunch so that the graduates would have an opportunity to mingle with family, friends, and other graduates seated at their tables. Then came the ceremony. The ceremony included graduates from both the Bachelors and Associates Degree programs. There were five awards given out amongst the 75-85 graduates. The two highest awards, the Most Likely To Succeed and the Most Creative, went to two close friends of mine at school. In fact, all five awards went to most deserving candidates. We did have a keynote speaker, but I will not mention her name as I am sure none of you would know of her other than the work she has done. Once the ceremonies were over, the class pictures were taken along with the traditional tossing of the caps.
The celebration, for most, then moved on to more personal venues with family. I went back to my sister's place where some of my family from the Bay Area were staying. Lots of chatting, a very light snack along with champagne, and then the opening of the family graduation gift to me. It was a nice leather portfolio in which I can carry my drawings and marker renderings.
After that I seemed to go into a 'funk.' I can't explain it. As you know from Friday's post, this whole graduation ceremony just seemed anti-climatic to me. I have no idea if this feeling/mood simply carried over to yesterday's graduation or not. Maybe it was the thought of all the classwork that I still have to complete within the next three-four days on projects due this week?! Maybe it was simply me beginning to wonder what lies ahead for my future? Some people thrive on the unknown. I just don't. Give me a glimpse into the future and I'd be better prepared and most likely, happier.
At 5:30pm my family took me out for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant in Dana Point (CA.). It was a nice, intimate dinner rather than a bunch of fanfare. The big shindig may come toward the end of the summer though it is still up in the air. So I managed to get through dinner but the funk was still there. I wasn't very talkative and I am sure my mom was wondering what was up. Given I was feeling a bit bluesy, I had hoped to talk to a couple of friends on the phone last night. But I guess it wasn't meant to be.
Today is another day. Time to pick up on another chaotic run of work due for this week. A special thanks to those of you who extended me well wishes on my graduation. They meant so much coming from you guys. So I leave you with some gosh awful graduation pics of me.
posted by Tony @ 6/25/2006 12:18:00 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Once again, congrads......and I hope ya realize that post-graduation blues is very common. Don't know the reasons.....just know that it is :)
CONGRATS again! WHAT - Graduation and NO TIE... must be Califorina! The blues are common... you will be fine - once the immediate work is done. Sorry those friends let you down last night - don't be too hard on them - I know of at least one of them that was TOY...
It's a lot of hard work. Congratulations!!! So no more studying for awhile eh? :-)
You look great buddy! It makes me want to apply myself more in my own life!
You've accomplished something you've set your mind too. Enjoy the moment. Big hugs!
Ahhhh T, you look to sweet, hope the "funk" is gone, it not grab some Pinot or Merlot and surf porn!!! heeheehee
Congrats again studly!
Congratulations again Tony. Just stopping by at home, taking a shower, checking e-mail and head back out to the celebration. It's SF pride here today...saw the parade and my friends marching but spent only 15 minutes at the booths. I was claustrophobic!
So are you done with school for summer?
First, congrats! Now...just so you know, i can relate. It took me 10 freakin years and the day of graduation I remember driving home after and being sad. Not that it was over because I was glad...just...almost a feeling of...that's it? Anyway...this TOO shall pass. Again...you should be PROUD as hell.
Hope your feeling better today. I love the bottom picture of you looking straight ahead while everyone is looking up. You stand out so nicely in the shot. Not to much longer and you will done with all the classes. Hang in there, you can do it!
WOW, that was FAST :) Okay, I've been reading your blog for only a relatively short time...I didn't know you were graduating this weekend. (did I miss a post?) So big Congrats!! I bet there is something really wonderful right around the corner that will make these blues seem very shortlived :)
Congratulations on graduating! Can't wait to see what's in store for you next! Big hugs handsome, hope you're feeling a little better now that you've had a little time to get used to it all.
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