The Beginning of Something New

Today I'm moving on. I went to the gym at 8am. I had a dentist appointment at 11am. I sat down at Starbucks to start editing images from recent photoshoots at 12:45pm. I'm longing to drive to Reno. To feel the buzz of peers and to smell new books and paper. But I won't. I'm going to sit right here, with my iced green tea, and edit my heart out.

Today will be the first day in 17 years that I will not be going back to school. I miss it already, but with every longing for the classroom, I'm reminding myself that I worked really hard to be where I am - to be done with school and starting my photo career. And I'm trying to remind myself that all I wanted to do when I was in school is exactly what I am doing right now.

I made it to my goal and began the next stage of my life. Now I am forming new goals and I am prepared to put in the time and hard work to reach them.

College Graduate!

It's official. I'm a college graduate. It's crazy to be done, exciting and sad, but finally here!!

I graduate with honors - summa cum laude and with the deans award for outstanding graduate in the arts. My gpa was around 3.95 and I graduated with over 30 extra credits that don't web apply to my degree. I entered 4 years ago as a math major, spent a year and a half as an undecided major, and graduated as an art-photography major with a business minor. My photography was published 3 different semesters, I've had 3 joint exhibits and one solo exhibit. I also completed a self-portrait 365 project. I was awarded an honors undergraduate grant, completed an 85 page honors thesis, and presented my research at a research conference.

I commuted 1 hour each direction from Carson, usually four days a week, to attend classes. I worked 10-20 hours each week at my office job, and an additional number on my freelance photography. I spent evenings with my husband and managaed to keep up on most of my household responsibilities. I graduated with no student loans.

But these 'statistics' don't begin to explain my undergraduate experience.

I've grown tremendously. I've learned about my past, my weaknesses, and my strengths. I've learned to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. I've learned to deal with stress, prioritize and to not sweat the small stuff. I learned how to be a loving and humble wife. I've become a leader and mentor while still a student and learner. I've become a technical and conceptual artist. I've recognized my desires and priorities and am learning to keep a proper outlook of life. I've learned to rely on God for my strength and to never take any of the good gifts He's given me for granted.

I'm thankful for the support of family, mentors, and peers through these last four years that have allowed me to continue striving to do my best.

Congrats to all my fellow 2010 University of Nevada, Reno graduates!!!!

The End!

After four years of school and over 800 hours commuting to Reno from Carson... I'm done!

I kept having one more thing to do, and now, suddenly, its all done, all over. All tests have been taken, papers submitted (including my 85 page thesis!), projects critiqued, and evaluations completed. The only thing left is to walk across the stage on Saturday! It feels unreal and at the same time, it hasn't really hit me. I'm not sure it will until Saturday or even next fall when I don't go back to school.

On Tuesday I arrived at school about 1pm. I was early to my last class - Book Arts, so I could finish putting away materials and printing a few final bags. No one was in the studio when I arrived, and so I sat there for a few minutes, thinking. It would only be a few hours and I knew my undergraduate studies would be completely over. And after I started, the next few hours flew by, and then it was over.

Its kind of sad. I mean, school is what I've done for the last 16 years... and despite how much I have complained about it, I'm really going to miss it. I didn't take advantage of college like I should have and I regret it. In so many classes, I did the bare minimum to get the grade and didn't try to learn and understand the material. And I often made excuses for why I couldn't give 100%. I'm going to miss my peers and mentors and the environment.

But I'm also really excited. I'm excited to kick off my photography business in full swing, catch up on editing photos for clients and my 365 project, blog more (woo!), clean and decorate my house, and just live and be!

Graduation this Saturday at the University of Nevada, Reno! Barbecue/Taco/Fajita Celebration at my house afterward! See you then! ;]

Looking Forward

As graduation approaches, there are a number of things I'm looking forward to, including:

reading books

planning dinners

catching up on laundry

doing some spring cleaning

spending time with my husband - especially in the evenings and weekends - watching movies, sushi dates, etc

sleeping

no homework

decorating our house

printing our own photos

catching up on photo editing

finally finishing the revision of my website

hanging out and building relationships with friends - I miss all of you!

taking on my commercial photograhy work

and working on my own creative photography work

painting, sewing

getting my pottery wheel and kiln working and throwing some pots and mugs!!!

volunteering my time to help our church body

spending more time in God's word

sunshine

Less than a month till Graduation!

Countdown

???/365 - February 01, 2010, originally uploaded by HarmonyHilderbrand.

And the countdown begins. 14 weeks to graduation.

Exhibit is April 12-23. Thesis defense April 20. Birthday May 8. Graduation May 15!