A few hours before graduation....

My cap and gown are set, my outfit has been picked out, my nails are done, my hair has been washed and set, and all that's left for me to do is graduate. Get up early in the morning, eat something, put on my clothes, shoes, and head out the door to the Izod Center. The hard part is done; now I just have to walk across the stage and try not to trip and fall in front of everyone.

I joined the Alumni Association today, and I logged in and looked around. I have to update my profile next. I also have to do my Loan Exit Interview for school and send it back. But first things first: I have to graduate. I just wish that more of my family and friends could join me; I had been dropping hints, letting them know the exact date, time, and location of the graduation. But just to have their well wishes is truly a blessing.

So I'm hopeful that I'll get to mingle with my fellow graduates before commencement begins. Even if it's just, "Hi, how are you?" and "Congratulations", it's nice to know that we're all in it together. And again, I hope to be an encouragement to my niece down the road when she's in college; she'll see that there's no obstacle big enough to hold her back--unless she allows it to. I just want any and everybody to learn from my example, that if you want something enough, you'll continue to push through.