Graduation Regret

I still remember graduation from College Park like it was yesterday. A few of us met at Mckeldin mall to take pictures with our parents. I had on my favorite bone colored shoes (which I've ruined since =( ) and the same dress that I wore to my high school graduation. As we got situated in Cole Field house and watched as the graduate students walked up to the stage, I thought to myself that I would be doing the same someday. I would be that person graduating for my master's degree.

Unfortunately, at around halfway through my program, I began to feel very cynical...almost thinking that my degree really wouldn't be worth anything. I started to regret signing up for it to begin with.... and I all of the sudden forgot that dream I had of walking at graduation. So, I didn't sign up for it. I didn't buy a cap and gown. I didn't get tickets. I had absolutely no plans of attending.

I would have been walking at graduation this Saturday had I taken care of my attitude a little sooner. Instead, the conclusion of my master's degree will be nothing but the day that I submit my final report. No celebrations to be had. No hats to throw in the air. No proud moments to remember years from now where I get to sift through old albums and see a picture of Joe and I perhaps toasting to the past two years of both of us being in school and working full time.

I suppose that the moral of this story is to never downplay an accomplishment. I know not everyone is into the whole celebration thing. I was foolish enough to think that I wasn't. But 'cmon...this is me...the girl who likes to have multiple birthday dinners every year... Why did I ever think that skipping graduation would be ok?

I still have that dress I wore to my high school and undergrad graduation. I think I may just wear it this Saturday...