Isn't that just the question worth a million freaking dollars...
All graduates, of every level minus maybe those who have an obvious step, like Kindergarten onto 1st grade, HATE, ABHOR, feel like you want to scratch your eye balls out, REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE this question.
But everyone and their mother (usually it's the mothers who are the number one culprit) ask it.
Spoiler Alert! We don't know! And if we did, we don't want to talk about it anyway because that means we are growing up and actually have to do this thing called "life" and try to be semi-successful at it.
That question makes me about as crazy as J beibs. No lie.
Gag.
But yes, I did graduate. With a master's degree so I got to wear a fancier gown and a hood that really just ended up choking me for the entire ceremony but dammit I earned that hood! All of the finance tests, business analyses and way too many group projects went into that silly hood that was heavy and hot but I secretly loved it. I'm part of an elite club now, we're called 'The Masters' and I'm kinda, really friggin' excited about it.
It wasn't a walk in the park but I did it! I may start introducing myself with MBA at the end of my name now. Just kidding. Or am I....?
The ceremony was actually not too boring. The governor of Illinois spoke at it, so that was cool. Sure he wants to cut millions and millions of dollars to higher education BUT he did have a decent speech. What better way to say, hey, don't cut so much please, than by asking him to talk at our graduation. Like my daddy said, kill them with kindness. And he's part of the same club. So he's cool I guess.
We got to see the doctorate students get hooded as well, which was also cool and ALMOST made me consider that maybe I'll try for one. Maybe. I doubt it. But I won't say it'll never happen. But I think I'm going to LOVE not having homework for awhile. LOVE LOVE LOVE that.
But what was even better than the ceremony was that my whole fam bam was there to celebrate with me. Not everyone, but I had quite the entourage coming all 2000 miles from California to little Carbondale, Illinois just for me. My 'cool' aunt who we can all thank for getting this process and career choice, both grandmothers, my cousin, and of course my parents. I had a friend who came down from Chicago too, and we haven't seen each other in about a year and I was so happy to have her there. The funny thing about the 2nd graduation ceremony, it's a whole lot less extravagant.
Hold on. Don't get too excited, let me explain. It's not that it's worth less or more than any other graduations or degrees. I'm still pretty jazzed and really freaking proud of myself. Duh.
It's just that it felt a little deja vu-ish and I was ok with not taking a bajillion photos by the signs and school and with the regalia, etc. I know how hard I worked, and I'm so glad my family and friends were there for me, but I was also alright with not going out to drink and celebrate like crazy afterwards and to getting overly excited and actually had a splendid day hanging out with my boss and his family, my own, my friends and coworkers and just relishing in finishing another chapter. It was 2 years of my life, so it was technically less of a investment of my time than undergrad, but I did a lot of growing up during both times. It's less of a celebration of being done and finished but more of a celebration of continuing onto the next part of my life. So it's just different and maybe less 'fun' and 'crazy' but it was still good and I remembered it all and wasn't nursing a hangover. Winning.
But then my family and friends left and I made it a whole 3 days before I started scouring craigslist and help wanted websites for a summer job, volunteer work, ANYTHING to keep me busy. I put in 5 applications for a big girl career, a few odd jobs and a bunch of volunteer work. I got a call back for a job at a grocery store but wanted someone for more than 3 months...sorry about it, I (pray to sweet baby Jesus) will be long gone. For volunteering though, I figured I'd have to decline some places. Boy was I wrong...no one apparently wants free, human labor without any sort of catch, no class credit or court mandated, just a girl looking to fill her time. I was denied, straight up denied by the library, hospital, nursing homes, the list goes on. Whaaaa?!?? Fine. FINE. Don't take my help than. I'm not bitter. Not at all. It's not like I haven't received enough rejection letters from potential jobs let alone volunteer opportunities...UGH. I just want someone to love me for me!!!
WHO IS A GREAT VOLUNTEER BY THE WAY sheesh.
Ok rant done.
But a girl can only work out 2 times a day for so long. So I tried again. And low and behold, FINALLY someone appreciated the fact that I'm just a bored, Master's graduate who is looking to fill her time between school and that first job. You're looking at St. Francis' Animal Care Clinc's newest volunteer! It's only been one day and I already love it and will probably go everyday that I am available. YESSSSSS
It's not glamorous. Not in the slightest. I don't even get to work with the animals (yet). I spend the day doing laundry, changing and cleaning pens, sweeping and mopping. In fact a lot a lot of the latter. I wear a smock and head band because the hospital is big but all cement and HOT and I barely finish mopping the hallway before one end of the corridor is already dry. But I love it. I get to work with these really nice older ladies, one of which, Connie, who doesn't really do the whole introduction thing. She just looks you up and down and says "Ok, Baby, follow me, I'll show you the Exam room that needs a'sweeping and a'mopping. Make sure to get under those cages real good now, Baby, and then we can move on to the Pre-Op room. Throw that smock on, Baby, you're gonna get a'dirty today."
In fact there wasn't anything formal about it at all. No tour, just thrusted a broom and a mop and got to it. But I did get to see some animals. The new puppies and dogs have to go under quarantine before being introduced to other dogs so they can get vaccinated and a few new puppies were in one of the rooms. So cute. And they have a specific cat room for the cats and kittens and I cleaned that too. They let some of the cats out to play during the day so that was kind of more interaction, as I had to sweep around a very curious kitty who wanted to attack the broom every time it touched the ground. But when I brought the mop out, he scattered away real quick.
This guy. Cute but really? Don't get me fired on day 1, bro.
I worked for about 2 and half hours, and was dripping in sweat but a huge smile on my face as I walked out of there. Sure, it's not rolling around in daisies with puppies and kitties BUT it is still rewarding playing Cinderella. If Connie is my step mother who makes me sweep and mop and calls me and everyone else in the entire hospital 'Baby', I can be Cinderella just fine.
An all too accurate depiction of what today was like. But I'm so ok with it.
To be continued!
