College Graduation

Four years. 

Over. Just like that. 

BAM. 

My firstborn daughter is a college graduate.

Tom: "It doesn't seem like four years, does it? Has it been four years?"

We made arrangements, loaded the van, and drove to North Carolina for our daughter's graduation from the University of North Carolina. It was a whirlwind of a weekend.

Saturday, she had her Bachelor of Sciences graduation in Biology in the evening. It poured down rain, and the Student Center made a nice profit selling umbrellas (hello, husband), much like Disney does selling ponchos in the summer. While the commencement was indoors, we all stood in line for miles to get inside, and most of us were soaked by the time we made it past the doors. Umbrellas were not made to be next to one another in a line.

It was long. We were seated where the speakers blocked our vision of the department chair handing out the certificates on the completely opposite side of where our kid sat. But we could see her, and we managed some decent pics as she walked the walk.

There was a reception after the commencement outside under tents heavy with water. We nibbled on cheese and crackers, veggies, and cookies shaped like feet with a chocolate tar on the heel. It poured the entire time, and other than a few pictures with Madison's one and only roommate, we didn't hang around for long. Instead, we hiked to her dorm. Where we saw that she'd sort of begun packing.

Sunday at 9:00 a.m. was the commencement with the entire Senior class. That ceremony is held outdoors. Last year it was 95 degrees, and people were passing out. This year rain was forecasted. It held off. The day was overcast, in the high 70's, and while we couldn't tell where our daughter was seated, it was much more pleasant than I had intended.

The speakers were decent. The Class President was good. The singing was phenomenal. And the best part was that the students did not walk the stage to get their diplomas. Not with over 5,000 students graduating. Oh, that's why we have separate ceremonies!

From there, we hiked to the Honors College for a reception. Unfortunately, the food was picked clean when we arrived. Nothing but water and lemonade. We picked up her Honors Certificate and moved on to the next ceremony.

The Bachelor of Arts Chemistry Degree was indoors but off-campus. We hiked and hiked until we came to that realization and caught a shuttle. We arrived thirty minutes into the reception, but unlike the Honors College, Chemistry had plenty of food. We munched on sandwiches, egg rolls, chicken, empanadas, and desserts. We had cheese and crackers, fruits, and plenty of veggies and dip, and if we'd had Tupperware containers, we would have taken it all home with us. We were starved.

The Chemistry majors in BA and BS were a small group. Chemistry is very hard at UNC, apparently. I'm told it takes tons of hours, time, and hard work, and not many students can cut it. The chair of the department was a hoot. He gave a great speech. The speaker did a heck of a job. The kids walked the walk for their certificates, and everyone could see.

We voted that one as the best! From there, we rode a different shuttle, and since we were the only ones on it, he said he'd drop us at our car. The problem was, Tom and I hadn't a clue which parking garage we parked in. We were too focused on getting to the stadium for the graduation that other than knowing we were on the seventh floor, we were utterly clueless.

Tom: "We're on the seventh floor."

Me: "It had elevators with glass."

Madison: "You're describing generic details of every parking garage on campus."

Yep, our bad. The driver let us off at the garage he and Tom thought was correct. I knew as soon as we went down the street that it wasn't the right one, but we followed the hubby on to the elevator and realized there was no button for 7 since there were only six floors in this garage. 

We hiked some more. We studied maps. Madison finally sat down at a bus stop and refused to budge. Tom left us to go find the car. We tracked him and watched him walk to almost every parking garage on campus before he struck gold. Then we watched him again as he tried to find us where he'd left us.

Shades of losing Grandma in Scotland. He did eventually rescue u,s and then he took us to dinner to end the evening.

She earned two degrees; BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry, both with the highest distinction. 

We are so proud of everything this woman has accomplished in these four years. We have watched her develop into a leader, watched her overcome her shyness to excel in many areas, and we think she's one hell of an adult. 

Her plan is for graduate school down the road in genetics. 

Here's to you, kiddo. You did good! We love you! Congratulations!