The Graduate

Oh hello world.

Oh hello spring.

I have come out of my winter hibernation and I feel refreshed. Next week I will be receiving my Master of Public Administration degree. I am actually shocked that I finished. My classes ended last December and I have been working full time since then, yet I managed to finish my Capstone Paper (like a thesis, less threatening) and pass the Comprehensive Exam to receive my diploma. So now THAT CRAP is over.

I honestly feel a little lost. Since I have finished my paper, I have gone into this Sunday night panic where I feel as if I have homework. 20 years of straight school will do that to a person.
People ask me all the time if I plan to participate in the ceremony. I answer, well hell yes. And here is why:

People throw a big effing party and get all crazed when you graduate high school. Why? I mean, at least where I went to school, you had to TRY to not graduate. And then you graduate college, and people care a lot less about that, which is ass-backwards. In fact many students choose not to attend the ceremony.

Now, I am graduating with a Masters degree. I think it's kind of a big deal. I worked pretty hard for that. It was in no way fun like undergrad was. There is no laying in someone's lawn hung over on a Friday morning. No beer bongs, keggers, no skipping class to play outside on nice days. No no, there was only research, studying, and writing. Lots and lots of writing. So, that is why I will
participate in commencement. I will walk across that stage with a shit-eating grin on my face and say, "Hello world. I survived grad school."