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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

I Graduated!

So, this weekend was super exciting! I graduated college! Yesterday I apologized for my absence from the blogosphere because of it, but the days were packed and I didn't want to miss a moment. Starting on Friday everything was truly incredible and it is a time of my life I will never forget. I'm really happy to share this with you all! The camera was used like crazy so be prepared for lots of photos! :)


Friday:
I started the day by going to get special graduation nails done with my mom. The design I had my eye on could not be done with shellac so, I ended up going back to acrylics. After I was finished there I went over to Billy's grandparents to spend time with them as well as his brother who was in town for the weekend. Later on in the night I headed to pick up my friends Heather and Scott who were staying with me, or so I thought, since they were flying out of my local airport the next morning. When we got into town, my mom surprised us, well me, with a room at the hotel right by the airport for the three of us to have a fun night and early graduation celebration. They were already in on it!

White, black, and silver to match my dress for Sunday.

I was greeted with a lovely present walking into my friends house to pick them up. 

The cute way my mom revealed the surprise & decorated our room.

Saturday:
My mom and I were up bright and early Saturday morning to get on the road down to Ann Arbor for the commencement ceremony being held in the Big House. The past four years I have attended a satellite campus of U of M, but the large graduation incorporates graduates from all three campuses. We met Billy down there and come 8 am he and I were off to gather with all the other students. It was a little chilly and slightly rainy yet, still an incredible experience! I was also blessed to have a family friend give up her day to be there and to run into a dance teammate of mine from this past year.

Outside the gates of the Big House.

Processing into the stadium & finding our seats (50 yard line, row 17!).

Looking out among the graduates.

Pictures after the ceremony before heading home.

Sunday:
The big day! The day I went from being an undergraduate to an alumni. I was so thankful to have my mom, dad, brother and godparents in the audience. Since I was graduating with Billy, it was also great to have his grandparents, brother, mom, and dad there too. Sunday was surreal. I don't even think it has completely sunk in. I do know that it did hit me sitting there during the ceremony, though, that I was going to miss college and everything/one associated more than I ever thought I could. 

Walking into the arena and heading down to sign-in.

Friends and faculty.

Right after we finished processing out.

A little blurry, but the first time I saw my parents as a graduate.

I wouldn't be who I am today without these people. <3

My brother and I are goofy.

My family.

Billy's family.

Our classic and traditional knee pop pose.

After the ceremony, we went over to campus to take some cap & gown photos.

Although I'm graduated, the nerd in me will forever be!

"Today is only the beginning, not the end."

It's hard to close this chapter of my life, but it is also exciting. 
And I will never forget where I came from. I will always wear my maize and blue with pride.

Questions of the Day:
1) What emotions did you feel on your graduation?
2) How long did it take for the reality to sink in?
3) If not graduated, do you have certain expectations for it?

❤ Nichole 

24 comments:

  1. By far my favorite post ever. I loved ALL of the photos! You totally should do photo heavy posts from now on! I'm proud of you and excited to spend more time together as alums!

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    1. Thanks love!! I enjoyed putting them all together!! I definitely am going to try to do so more and more when I can!! I am SO excited to spend more time together as alums<3

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  2. YEY!! Congratualtions again. :D LOVED this post, so many amazing photos and your Mom is totally the cutest! (The door #1, #2 thing was amazing).
    Love the sassy knee pop from your Dad too! :D
    xo

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    1. Thanks again Danielle!!:)) And yea the way she told me was just too adorable!! My two friends and her each help up a sign. It was fun! Fun fact about that knee pop photo…it was my dads suggestion!! Hehe!!

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  3. Congrats on graduating. I know from hearing my husbands stories about his graduation, it's such a bigger thing then it is in the UK and he graduating from Detroit Mercy which is so much smaller than U of M! We didn't even have the fancy hat things (I forget their name) at my university - even for my MA graduation.

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    1. Thank you! I also recently found out on a previous post of mine that the UK doesn't have graduation for kindergarten or high school either. I think it is so interesting how different areas do things in various ways. I love learning about it. I know a few people who graduated from Detroit Mercy's dental school!:))

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  4. Congratulations, must say I love the mani of choice for the big day.

    Meg | Meghan Silva's Blog

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    1. Thanks! It was a little on the unusual side of what I normally go with, but I figured what they heck why not! And I was really happy with the end result of them!

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  5. Congrats! What a great day! I remember feeling really proud of myself on graduation day, but also feeling a mixture of excitement and fear over what comes next. Don't waste time worrying! Everything works out the way it's supposed to :)

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    1. Thank you so much Chrissy! And thank you always for your lovely comments on my posts! <3 I can certainly relate on all of those feelings. I agree with you though, that everything will work out. Its different because college was my life these past 4 years but now I have the chance to take all of the amazing things I learned there and apply them!

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  6. Congratulations! As u graduate college, I'm graduating high school!

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    1. Congratulations on your high school graduation dear!

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  7. That's so exciting and it sounds like you had a great time with family and friends! Did you customise your mortar board (I think that's what they're called) yourself? It's so cute!
    I'm excited to see what the next chapter of your life holds my lovely. Have fun and good luck
    Kate xx
    http://appreciatetheday45.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Yea I did!! I found the design online and then recreated it on my hat! It wouldn't have been possible without the help of my brother! He has more of an artistic touch then I do so he was crucial for the infinity design incorporating dream. It took a few hours but it was so so fun!! Thank you so much girl!

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  8. You're the most decorated grad I've ever seen. :)

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    1. Oh no...I've seen ones that are wayy more!! But as you know about me, its never been about the award…I just like doing this because I like doing them!:)

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  9. Congratulations on your graduation!! Amazing pictures :) xx

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  10. Congratulations! This is amazing sounds so exciting I can't wait for my graduation! Plus the top of your hat is gorgeous I would never think to do that :D
    hellomissjordan.blogspot.co.uk xxxx

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    1. Thanks Jordan! When yours comes just remember to take it all in! It flies by quick! And thanks, I found the design on google!! Google and pintrest have SO many ideas! :)

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  11. Finally getting to catch up on posts after being on vacation. I missed this one! Congratulations, you looked beautiful! xo

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    1. Thanks girly!! So glad your vacation was good:))

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  12. FINALLY catching up on your blog....you know it's only the 21st haha..sorry for being so shocking! :) but I am having a good old read now :) once again, CONGRATULATIONS! :D you must be soooo proud of yourself, I really hope you are! :D your parents look very proud too! whats next for you? :) xxxx

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    1. Thanks for always being so lovely and reading my posts! :) and thanks for the congrats! It's definietly hit me now! For me now it's a little time to relax then putting on the big girl pants! :) LOL

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