My college adventure started in 1997. I actually went full-time for five years. Not that I had a hard major really but that I changed so many times I was constantly starting over. I first started out with Elementary Education. It was my dream growing up to be a 1st grade teacher with my bestest friend Elke. We were going to be at the same school, in the same hall, wear those tacky school house vests, walk the halls after school for exercise, and grow old together. However, the summer after my freshman year I worked at a day care and realized I might not have the patience required for that profession.
Sophomore year I did a 180 and switched my major to Speech Pathology. I struggled with this major. In the end, I realized the letter C is nice at the beginning of my name but not on a transcript. I switched again.
I jumped head-on into Social Work. The study of helping people. I like helping and I like people. Perfect combination. So I went to work. I wanted to focus on adoptions. Do you realize how much red tape surrounds adoptions? Actually, around just helping people? LOTS. It was such a frustrating major. Even though I had the knowledge and resources, I couldn't actually help the person due to this rule or that rule. So, my fourth year, or my "first senior year" as I called it, I switched again.
Recreation Management was my new direction. And I loved every minute of it. Aside from the standard research papers, book assignments, and professor interviews, my homework consisted of camping, hiking, biking, water rafting, and dutch oven cooking. Can't complain about that!
I graduated August 2002. I had worked all summer at a day camp called Canyon Crest. The camp deserves it's own post so more on that later. The whole fam-damily came out for the commencement. As my name was called, Shelly-Belly belted, "It's about time!" from the audience. Meanwhile I was running across the stage with my arms in the air yelling, "I did it!" When I got to the other side of the stage, the department head handed me my diploma. A simple handshake is typical but I was so ecstatic I gave one of the biggest bear hugs in me.
August 16, 2002 really was one of the happiest days of my life! Just look at that smile. Any fun graduation memories?
6 comments:
When I was standing in line for graduation, in the ASB parking lot, I decided I didn't like the shoulder pads in my gown and convinced my friend that he didn't like the way his fit so he would trade me. It was great.
Other highlights were having Brandon meet my parents and my grandma for the first time. I think graduation is a common "first meeting the parents" at BYU.
Oh Charika...tears are forming in my eyes....that's just precious...just precious...and to think that I was there....you should have tears in your eyes cuz i came to your blog!!!
LOL It's hard to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life! At least you didn't become a "professional student" and only took one extra year! You look absolutely radiant in that picture.
I prefer the term eternal student. If I were a professional student I would be good at it and they would pay me, not vice versa. I had a profession but gave it up for a degree...to get a better profession.
I will probably retire from school before I graduate, though I hear the benefits aren't that great.
I remember so little about my graduation it's sad. I think my parents were there. It was in the de Jong Concert Hall, I know that.
Huh.
My graduation was great. Only because I had to get three degrees before I could actually "walk" with a cap and gown.
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