GRADUATION!!!!

Well....I did it. I walked across the stage Saturday morning to accept my college diploma! It was such an amazing day. I was so nervous the week before about it all, but I woke up Saturday with a peace and excitement about the day. I think God def worked in my favor that day because He heard all my "Lord, please take away this anxiety and replace it with excitement" cries lol. When I arrived to the coliseum my friend Will was waiting on me and that helped to calm me down as well. I met Will when I was a sophomore taking a linguistic class. We instantly became friends and although it was the last class we had together we have stayed in touch. He attempted to tutor me in Spanish, but when that didn't work out he introduced me to another great friend William that helped me survive that class. ANYWAYS, I was stoked to be graduating with Will.

I was also so blessed to be graduating with a friend that I call "Rhino." He is probably the first real friend I made at college and the story is hilarious. We were freshmen and we had a Psychology class together. It was a HUGE class and I got there a little late and the only available seat was at the very back of a huge room. So I made my way to the back (i hate sitting in the back) and i was a tad bit annoyed at myself for getting there late. The professor made each of us pick a partner and find out their name, major, favorite kind of ice cream, and an interesting fact about them and stand in front of the class to report on it. By this point I was doubly annoyed because it felt like high school all over again, i was sweaty from running trying to make it to class on time, and i was stuck in the worst seat in the class. Needless to say I picked "rhino" as a partner (thankfully) and when he asked me the 4 questions and I reported back and then I asked him....and REMEMBER it was a huge class so the chatter going on that day was very loud...and i could have sworn he said his name was "dusty rhino" and i asked him several times to repeat himself thinking "there is absolutely no way this kid's name is dusty rhino" but I kept hearing the same answer...so just to confirm i said "So, your name is really dusty rhino??" and he smirked and said yes. So...we begin reporting to the class about our partners...I stand up...give my spill ..."this is dusty rhino...he is a creative writing major, he likes mint chocolate chip icrecream(i just made that up...i really can't remember), blah blah blah." Fast forward 10 mins to the professor calling roll....."Dustin Wright?"....."here" ........................................yes...he really had coaxed me into saying his name was dusty rhino to the entire class. It may not be as hysterical to all of you...but it def funny at the time...so from there on he was "rhino" to me! And he has been a great blessing in my life the last 4 years! I know I will keep in contact with him *after college.* He just got engaged and I'm so so happy for him and cannot wait to attend his wedding next May...knowing him...it will def be something no one wants to miss!

I knew a few other people that were within my program that graduated Saturday also so that was comforting too! It really was a great day. I enjoyed hanging out with everyone before the ceremony began....and when the commencement music started I had a tingle of nervousness so I looked to the girl next to me and said "BRANDY...I'M NERVOUS...CALM ME DOWN" so she busted out in Justin Beiber and all the anxiety melted away and I'm pretty sure I smiled the rest of the day!

I had a wonderful college experience! It started off a little rocky. As a freshmen i had no clue what to do or expect and didn't always make the best choices as far as actually going to class was concerned. Because of this I had to redo many of the classes I took the first year...but it turned out amazing in the end. I remember the very first day of school....I walked into WPN and had no clue what to do....I had a break between classes and found a large glass lobby full of couches and chairs and people hanging out....I walked in...took a seat...and sit in silence for the hour waiting for the next class to begin. Little did I know that that lobby would feel like home to me eventually. Once I decided to major in English WPN is the only building I was really in and I spent countless hours studying in that lobby, hanging out with friends, eating lunch, waiting on others to get out of class....and even sleeping on occasion. I'm truly going to miss that place and all the wonderful memories that I had there.

I made so many friends through college...the kinds of friends that have truly truly truly impacted my life and changed me in ways I could never have dreamt of. To all of my English friends...thanks for making college unforgettable....Kim, Jessica, Kayla, Jennifer, Amanda, Ashton, I could go on and on...but all I can really say is life is so much better now that I've met you all! I will miss you guys so much and miss our crazy fun study groups. I was so happy to be able to reconnect with some of these friends at my graduation party Saturday...:)

And to all of my other friends who may not have been in class with me everyday...but still there ...chuck, nat, krystle, cj! Love you all:) You guys have kept me sane and supplied me with a place to live haha.

Some of my most random memories from college involve stalk night 09, rescuing cory, background checks, laughing hysterically, coffee at hastings, starbucks, or wherever else we could find coffee, 1 am freakouts because we cant remember the characteristics of post-modernism vs. modernism, tears, mean teachers, funny teachers, Witherspoon lobby, caf lunches, nebo, more tears, laughter, and more memories than could fill this page.

I'm a college graduate now...and I had the best time getting to this moment. I'm ready to start the next chapter of my life now......Grad school here I come:)

ugh i would love to post more pics but it took like 10 mins to upload these 3 for some strange reason???