Gradiation

(Yes, that was deliberately spelled wrong.)

Guys. This. Is. It.

You know what happened today? I picked up my cap and gown. As I held it in my hands, it felt surreal how close it all was. Then the excitement creeped in and I called my mom to ask about graduation announcements. Then I designed my graduation announcement. Then I talked to my sister about graduation.

Four years, guys, wow. What a remarkable adventure this has been.

I keep looking forward and backward and I wanted to share with you want I'm looking forward to and what I'll miss about here.

I will miss:

• Feeling the spirit on this campus, at work, and in my classes
• Having the opportunity to see the prophet and apostles in person
• Running in Provo
• Rooftop Concert Series
• Having really bright friends with very intellectually stimulating conversations
• Having the best girlfriends in the world
• So many Mormons and good people
• My BFF's from my Study Abroad
• My study abroad
• My BFF's from work, Provo Shore, the like
• So much accessibility to knowledge and education! Forums, devotionals, guest speakers!
• Professors who can teach also things of spiritual nature
• Seasons
• Walking everywhere
• Fry sauce
• International Cinema
• Religion classes (as opposed to Institute, honestly not the same at all)
• Free stuff that comes with paying tuition: gym, art exhibit, therapists, software training classes, etc...
• So much talent from my peers
• Being best friends with the salt of the earth
• Not having to be a complete adult and be completely responsible
• Awesome parks and nature
• Good wards
• Mild summers and gorgeous falls

Looking Forward to:

• Being in wards where we need each other more so we don't get cliquey
• Dating Guys with more experience (and less conceit)
• People not being judgmental
• People who actually like looking good and fashionable
• Shawarma, and real Ethnic food
• Having money
• Having time after I'm done working - as opposed to more homework
• Having a social life because I have time
• Realizing I'm actually doing pretty good in this world and not having constant performance anxiety
• Going and doing fun things with friends and dates because we have money
• Studying whatever I feel like - rather than just what I need to
• Peoples of other faiths
• Diversity
• Living in a world that doesn't revolve around a bubble
• Liberal people
• Feeling like a true moderate instead of a raging liberal
• Farmer's Markets, cheaper food
• More types of food to eat
• More places to shop and eat
• Not sliding on ice and falling on my butt
• Taking better care of my health
• Meeting new people, making new friends, getting totally new roommates
• Having a more favorable dating pool (much better guy-to-girl ratio, and, you know, guys actually asking)
• Hot, tan men who actually believe it's fine to look good 

Yep, there's good in both.