A Dog's Life

Our dog, Oscar is afraid of the dark. Every night my parents leave the laundry room light on for him. When their children were young (and probably afraid of the dark) they plugged a nightlight into an electrical socket in the hall and called that good.

Yea for Me! (A well deserved long post)

After all the pep talks, over-the-phone therapy sessions with family, in person therapy sessions with friends, financial assistance, and other forms of encouragement I have finally been awarded my bachelor's degree. . . diploma holder! I am confident that after I finish my independent study course that it will nicely accent the official certificate.

The day of graduation was a bit interesting. I slept through my alarm and, if it weren't for Alexis (a roommate) and Amraa (a neighbor) who were also graduating, I probably would have slept through the whole thing (I'm still trying to decide if that would have been a bad thing. . . haha). They woke me up and I got ready in approximately 15 minutes. We rushed over to the ballroom where all the graduates were to meet to have white collars stapled onto our gowns and sit for the next hour. I spent some of that time coordinating a camera drop off with a friend who had agreed to take pictures (to provide proof to all of you that, yes, I did graduate).

In the midst of all this sitting and coordinating the ballroom suddenly got quiet. You could tell that we were graduating from a Mormon university because we did what most Mormons do when it suddenly gets quiet at a gathering: we folded our arms and bowed our heads in anticipation of a prayer. Turns out there was no prayer planned but because we were all ready for one somebody in the Alumni Association offered one.

Finally, all the graduates were lined up to march into the Cannon Activities Center. We then had the opportunity to wait again before we began our processional.

(Guess which route we had to take. . . )

My cap would not stay on to save my life - even with the help of bobby pins. I held it on for the entire processional (so much for looking dignified) and had to catch it as it fell from my head both times I shook hands with the university's president. (When I shook the general RS President's hand it just looked like I was drunk when I dressed myself. . . either that, or that I am one of those geniuses that struggle with simple, everyday tasks (that's obviously more likely the case - which would explain the look of compassion and concern Sister B. gave me)).

When the time came for us to be handed our diploma holders we were lined up once again, each had our hands squirted with antibacterial hand sanitizer (nothing makes a graduate feel special like being de-germified prior to shaking important people's hands) and were each given our first graduation lei. We were then allowed to do all the normal graduation stuff - have our names read, walk across the stage, shake lots of hands, get holder, have picture taken, line up again, move our tassel to the other side, go through a gauntlet of professors, etc.

The picture on the left was taken when I snuck out of the ballroom for the camera drop-off. You can tell it was snapped before commencement exercises because I am not wearing any leis. Leis are a big part of graduation in Hawaii. If you attend school there and are not from any Polynesian islands or have close ties to one of them, it's not uncommon to secretly fear (especially if your family is unable to attend the ceremony) that you will be the sole graduate walking around wearing only the lei the university gave you (Islanders, on the other hand, tend to worry if they will be able to breath and see through all the leis they're given). Bless my friends and their generosity!

Following the post-ceremony reception, I had the brilliant idea to walk home afterward. I figured it would be one of the last opportunities to take the mile journey from campus to my house. I am confident I was the only graduate with such an epiphany.

About halfway to my place I realized how pathetic I looked wearing my gown, carrying my diploma holder and cap, and walking alone. It was if I could suddenly hear the music that follows Charlie Brown around everywhere he goes - do doot doo doot doo doot doo. (Click here to see a great moment from Arrested Development which illustrates the point nicely. Pretend the narrator is saying, "Meanwhile, Marissa decided to walk home from graduation alone. . ."). If no one had given me any leis I really could have been Chuck's living reincarnation.

I'd be lying if I didn't say part of me wished more people could have been there to see what all of their help has enabled me accomplish. However, the other part of me still knew that they were supporting me where ever they were. All in all it was a good day and never could have happened without all the encouragement I received from everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

For those of you who were unable to make it to the actual ceremony, one of my friends recorded a few moments for you. (Thanks Paul!) If I can ever get it to upload on this site, I'll post it here later.