Graduation Celebration

I graduated from grad school on Saturday, the thought of which is still a little surreal for me. It was a crazy, chaotic weekend with all of my family in town, but I had a great time. My parents and grandmother drove in on Friday night, and it was nice to get some alone-time with them. The next day, Brendan's parents, my uncle, and my other grandmother arrived in time for my graduation ceremony. It wasn't very hot that day (of which I'm thankful, because polyester robes don't exactly breathe very well), so I was able to hang out in the mall area with the M.A. grads and some English professors. My whole family ate at the Home Place that night, and the food was delicious as usual. Overall it was a great weekend, and I'm glad that so many people I love could be there.

It still hasn't sunk in that I'm finished with grad school. I'm sure it will soon, but for the mean time I keep thinking that there's something I need to be doing; I'm not used to having free time. The first thing on my summer to-do list: read Neil Gaiman's YA lit book Coraline. Everyone I've spoken to who's read it says it's downright terrifying, so I'm looking forward to starting it. I'll be able to do a whole lot of pleasure reading thus summer since I won't have a job, so I've already started a summer reading list (which makes my heart happy).

Here are a few pictures of graduation day. Some of them are a little washed out, but you'll get the gist.

The four of us started our Master's at the same time.
I'm going to miss these wonderful women

Me with Dr. Carroll, who was my Comps chair.
I want to be like her when I grow up.

The four M.A. graduates with the some of the English profs.

Brendan, me, and my folks

Transitions

I graduate from grad school on Saturday, which is CRAZY! It feels so surreal that this moment is finally here. I can't relax just yet, though, because I have to finish a take-home final and a paper, and grade a set of finals before my summer officially begins. No worries, though; it'll all get done. Also, pretty much my whole extended family is coming up for my graduation, which I'm really excited about. However, if you know my family, you know it'll be one loud, chaotic weekend.

I'm kind of in limbo on the job front, but that's to be expected. I know that school districts don't officially start the hiring process until the tail end of the school year, but I'd just like to know where I'm going to live and work. Because the job situation is up in the air, this will be the first summer since high school that I won't have a summer job. I'm looking forward to no responsibilities and sleeping in, but, knowing me, I'll probably get bored pretty quickly. But, it'll give me some time to catch up on my pleasure reading and visit some friends and family here and there.

Part of Your World (Grad Student Remix)

I share a tiny office with three other English graduate assistants, and the other day I noticed this little gem on the desktop of our communal office computer. I couldn't stop laughing because it perfectly captures the grad school experience.

I couldn't get the resolution any higher, so make sure to click on the picture. And sing it to the tune of "Part of Your World."

Hippity Hoppity

Sorry about the lame title; I wanted to come up with something Easter-y, but that was the closest I got.

Brendan and I are driving to Fort Worth tomorrow to spend Easter Sunday with his family. We couldn't leave town earlier because Brendan has to work today, so we're heading out early tomorrow morning instead and meeting everyone for the late service. I also get to see Baby Allison for the first time since she was born, so I'm really excited about that. I'm sure she's grown a lot.

Words cannot express how happy and relieved I am that Comps is over; I feel like I have my life back. For the past three months, I couldn't do just about anything without thinking about the Comps homework I was putting off. Now I can read for fun, watch TV, or just be lazy without worrying about all the work I'll have to do later. I only have homework for two classes now that Comps is finished, so the rest of the school year will be a breeze. I've also had the last few days off from school, so I've been intentionally lazy; it's been downright wonderful.

Now I can finally start looking forward to graduation next month. For the longest time, I didn't want to get excited about graduation because Comps was all I could think about, and I didn't want to jinx Comps by looking ahead to graduation. (I know, I'm weird like that.) So, now I can finally count down to the date in about a month when I get my Master's Degree. (!)

I Passed!!!

I can breath a little easier because this afternoon I PASSED COMPS! I'm so proud of myself!

DONE!

I finished writing my written exams for Comps this evening, and I feel like an elephant has been lifted off of my shoulders. When I finally finished revising my essays, I ran through the house like a madwoman, screaming, "I'm dooooooone!" I just hope our neighbors with whom we share a wall don't think they have a crazy woman living next door.

Comps as a whole isn't quite over yet, though. I have my oral defense on Wednesday afternoon, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. The hard part's over (finally!), and I'm looking forward to some well-deserved relaxation.

Please, Let It Be Monday at Noon

Comps is officially here, and I want to magically fast-forward my life to Monday afternoon so that I can turn in my essays. I'm not really worried about my oral defense on Wednesday; I just want to stop writing papers. I even dreamed about writing essays last night.

I'm beginning to think that Comps is just one big hazing-esque initiation that I have to go through before I can get my degree.