gradu-ma-cating.

First off, having officially finished school five months ago, commencement this past week was a little anti-climatic. But, I guess spending five years working toward this moment meant I could manage to wait a few more months. With my diploma already in my possession, a semi-temporary job, and working plans for the next year, actually graduating seemed sort of... redundant. But celebrating Senior Week with my friends, remembering freshman year, and having my parents come up to celebrate in all my glory; well, that was pretty nice.

Graduation was really for my parents, not for me. I had forgotten that I was their firstborn and that I was graduating from college. Technically the first in my family to do so (do cousins count?). They were so excited for this moment, that my dad wore a suit, my mom dressed up, and they even did a little fashion show for me at the hotel the night before the ceremony. Too cute.

And thinking back now, on that weekend, I'm sure the general theme around the school and with parents were "I'm so proud of you." Yes, the parents were proud of their kids for completing school, for working hard and getting a diploma. But now that I think about it, I am proud of you, Mom and Dad.

I'm proud that I have you as parents, that you love me the way you do, and that you have supported me through so much. I am proud of you for realizing that you can take a step back and still let me shine, that you don't need to hold my hand through everything, and that we can laugh and have fun together. I am grateful that you let me decide where to go to college, and what subject to major in, even if you never really understood it. I am grateful to you Dad, for all the college visits we made senior year of high school, and for liking Northeastern as much as I did when we first came here. I am grateful that you two always forgave me when I forgot to call, and that you called to check up on me as much as you did (even if I didn't appreciate it at the time). So, while you may be proud of me for graduating college, I am even more proud to have you as parents. Thank you.