On to the next one

A day spent reflecting on hard work and hilarious memories, and looking ahead to exciting new chapters! Happy graduation Michael :)

(slightly excited)

-

Edumacated

It's official. Thank you, Marquette!

"There is a time for departure even when there is no certain place to go."

-Tennessee Williams

Goodbye and Thank you.

It is only appropriate that as I come home today and turn on my iTunes, John Mayer’s "Stop This Train" is playing.

"So scared of getting older, I’m only good at being young."

I’m done with college. !?! I just came from my very last class as a senior at Marquette University. For the last three years they have given me an education based on ethics, morality, religion and integrity. I can’t express how grateful I am. I can’t express what it means to me to have a cross in every classroom, reminding me of who I need to be. I can’t express how much I appreciate the teachers that have given me their cell phone and home numbers, that have pushed me to exceed what is good, and truly become great.

It’s such a weird feeling to not know what is next. Some have grad school, the lucky few have a job lined up. Others are in a directed profession such as nursing, teaching, or dental school.

I have my degree in Advertising in the school of Communications.

At this point, I’m not only at a fork in the road, I’m in the middle of a 15 pronged intersection. Direction? Which direction? There are so many?

It’s intimidating. And walking through campus after my last class is nearly heartbreaking. You want to say so much to the professors as you pass, to the students as you all file out, but everything remains silent. In high school we had yearbooks to tell that random person in class that they made each day ten times better. Leaving college, I have no yearbook, I have no words, all I can do is smile and give them a nod, hoping they understand the sentiment behind it.

Thank you Marquette. This is me, forever smiling at you, knowing that you’ll always understand.

Dance around the world with me

Winter break is coming to an end and students are heading back to campus for the semester. It's our final semester as undergraduates at Marquette. In a few months, a piece of paper and ceremony will confirm that I am educated. Yikes.

Until that afternoon in May, we've got big plans. When I say we, I mean my lovely roommate and I. As a transfer student I have been so blessed to have made such a wonderful friend, and I truly don't know what I would have done without her during this time at school! So for our last semester our goal is to of course stay on top of our education, but also to enjoy each night and each moment here at this school, and here with each other. It's strange to think that this is the final semester of our youth. There are a lot of really big adventures ahead of us and we're excited and ready to embrace it, but we have to do the same with the time we have left!

Last night most of campus was reunited, and we were able to spend time doing our favorite thing with some of our favorite people...dancing!! No matter where we are or who we are

with, we cannot stop dancing. For us, there is no better way to let go of every emotion that isn't pure joy and happiness. Why else do we all have a dancing face?

Yes, a dancing face, and yes, you have one.

The face where you crinkle your forehead in concentration, and pucker your lips with sass.

These are dancing faces.

We never said we danced well, by any definition. ...And I do have friends that are great dancers.

The kind that study the moves of celebrities and artists, and dance as if they're in a music video.

It's very impressive and entertaining to watch, but I don't need a dance lesson every time I'm at the bar.

Our favorite kind is the arms flailing, lip biting, foot stomping, are they insane?, dance-your-face-off kind of dancing. When you really dance like no one's watching, but in reality the entire bar is staring at you.

It's an amazing feeling when you can find someone that will dance with you at that level.

If you're a more shy, self-conscious individual, I encourage you to set your fears aside, throw your hands in the air and maybe even just "move your hips like yeah," ...just like Miley. It's an amazing feeling, and you just might have the best night ever.

Welcome to 2010, and welcome

to the final semester. It's gonna be a good one.