those awkward square hats.

last weekend i had the privilege to see my favourite cousin graduate. two nights ago i had the privilege to see my best friend graduate. last night i had the privilege to walk across the stage myself, receive my diploma, and really really officially call myself an adult. i guess. does it count yet or only when i start paying my own bills? regardless, I've taken a huge step in life. but it wasn't easy getting there. yesterday alone, i had to struggle with the pull between my GPS's directions and what i could have sworn i read online. in the end, i took uncountable u-turns, freaked out...a lot...showed up to graduation practice fifteen minutes late, went chasing after this couple that i saw walk in late (only to discover that it was one of my former co-workers and her boyfriend), and then the three of us wandered around because we had no idea where to go. who's idea was it to hold graduation in the ASU Acadome?? well, when we reached the third floor, i geniusly remembered that we are supposed to be on the first because we are IN the graduation, not spectating it. so we rush back to the elevator just to open it and be greeted by 4 football buff football players and a lovely lady. turns out they were just as confused as we were! we laughingly went back to the first floor when the largest of them all suggested we go through the kitchen door, HA! well...i think we went through the door next to it and finally found the rest of the crowd...all seated. hysterical, i eventually found my spot. (note: by this time i somehow had a Mcdonald's mocha frappe in my hands. half gone. i wonder how that happened. XD) so we practiced. i went home. i waited. and waited. ran. and waited. showered. waited. i couldn't help noticing this peculiar pile of presents with my name on them. but alas, they were not to be touched until graduation was over. thus, more waiting. finally 4:50 rolled around. i got ready and left around five and this time i didn't argue with my parent's GPS. however, traffic was relentless and, not having AC in my car, so was the heat. because of traffic, i was 20 minutes late, drenched in sweat, stressed as mess, and i still had this ridiculous collar thing that's supposed to go on my gown! to make matters better, by the time i finally got to the parking lot of the Acadome, i watched the person in front of my pull in to park, and then the police men closed the gates. "wait i have to graduate!!" "go around" "but where am i supposed to--" "GO AROUND!" so yehh. I'm not in the best condition and I'm having a cop yell at me to go around...where? i don't know my way around the ASU campus...and someone was following me! so i pulled over, talked to her, and then this mysterious person took the lead. i ended up parking three blocks down from the acadome. its 6:00. call time was 5:30. I'm walking as fast as i can in four or five inch pumps, three blocks, sweaty, pissed...and this stupid collar is still a mystery! when i finally get into the building, I'm greeted by my fellow 400-500 graduates, a teacher to help me with that dern collar, and i beautiful one hour wait. you're kidding right? you wanted us here an hour and a half early and all we're doing in that time is STANDING?!...go lions... seven rolls around. then seven thirty. and finally, I'm walking across the stage, receiving my diploma, smiling til my cheeks hurt, and never looking back. Liberty University, here i come.