Obama's Weekend Trifecta

This was too good to pass up. Speaking in Sunrise, Florida over the weekend, Obama made three wonderful gaffes.

1. He repeatedly called the city "Sunshine" instead of Sunrise
2. He stated "On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience here today -- our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."
3. His uncle liberated Auschwitz.

Just to clarify:
1. The city is called Sunrise, but he mispronounced the name several times
2. The man apparently sees dead people in the crowds he's talking to... and we're worried about McCain's mental state
3. The Soviets liberated Auschwitz, not the Americans. But at least his uncle is well traveled...

Other Gaffes by Obama:
a. He called Sioux Falls, South Dakota "Sioux City"
b. claimed that Hugo Chavez came to power while George W. Bush was in office (it actually happened during Clinton's second term)
c. claimed that he wanted to be President of all 57 states

Told ya', I couldn't pass this up...

There Must be a Place...

People like to talk about epiphanies. That singular moment in their lives when everything they ever believed in was changed, when every person they held dear was revealed for what they really were, for better or for worse. That moment when, no matter what problem you were facing, you realized you'd get through it. Epiphanies can be brought on by songs, by movies, even just looking at nature. The funny thing about epiphanies is that a person is not limited to only one per lifetime...

Tonight was my one of my epiphanies, albeit, a rather depressing epiphany. I'm sitting at my trusty HP Pavilion that still runs Windows 98 and I'm surfing YouTube for Scottish rock. One of my favorite bands, Runrig, happens to be Scottish.

I came across a plethora of Runrig clips, and one of the songs was "Hearts of Olden Glory." I had never listened to this song before tonight. So, feeling adventurous, I clicked on the link and within moments was completely absorbed in one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.

Honestly, no song has ever seemed so moving, as cheesy as that sounds. But as the song played I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and let every thought I could run through my brain, framed to this music. A Psychologist would probably say my results were tainted because I deliberately injected outside stimulus, but in this case, I don't mind the psychology.

About halfway through, when the rocking guitar solo kicked in, I found myself in a state of pseudo-anger and quasi-fascination. I realized just how much the little things bothered me. I realized how ticked off I am that gas is nearing $4/gallon. I realized how ticked off I am that we're still quagmired in Iraq after 4 years. I realized how ridiculous it was that three people have shelled out millions upon millions of dollars to gain a position that pays no more than $400,000 or so a year. I realized how greatly "the system" was failing people. And I realized seemingly how little I could do about it all.

Yeah, my sudden desire to teach is a step in the right direction. It's a chance to educate a group of people who have been systematically failed at every turn by the very educational system that seeks to create the next generation of leaders in this nation. But even at that, one person can't make that much of a difference, can they? I used to talk about the Greater Good, and I realized that, undoubtedly, the entire nation would have to get behind such an ideal for any real change to be made.

The country is so divided that I really don't see anything that can bring us back together, so I think I've reverted to a baser, spiritual desire for inner renewal. I don't want to say that I've given up on our country, because I haven't. But honestly, lately I haven't seen anything to inspire hope that the divide can be repaired. One side blames the other for everything, the other side basically sticks up a middle finger and shouts names back in ridicule. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but that merely proves that the rule exists.

I realized that our generation has been stricken with heavy heart like no generation since World War II. We've actually watched our friends go off and die in a war that hasn't really gained us anything, save for a big fat check for Halliburton. We've seen the divide grow wider and wider as our own government runs around pointing fingers instead of actually solving problems. We've watched as our own President became a lame duck even before the election cycle ended, all because he's lost the faith of the people, or in some cases never had it to begin with.

I can't help but recall the John Adams miniseries on HBO. In one of his letters, Adams pleads for posterity to remember how much the previous generation gave to preserve the freedom they enjoy. That memory, that understanding of what others have given, is all but lost to the current generation. The divide has grown so overwhelming that it has replaced the desire for freedom with the desire for security.

So what does a people do when they've had enough? It's hard enough to get one percent of the people behind something, much less all of the people. So what can one person do?

So, that was a bit of a rant, but I must say I feel better having gotten that off my chest. Good night, and may God bless...

Stars: a short post

I got to hang out with one of my best friends tonight. We've both been so busy that it was the first time we'd seen each other in about three weeks. We had a blast, and when we got back to her house, it was nearly 11p.m. The nice thing about where she lives, aside from being only a couple of miles form where I live, is that ambient light is almost non-existent, and there is a wonderful view of the heavens.

I love the stars, and it saddens me that I'm not as familiar with the summer constellations as I am with the winter star formations. I can point out Orion, Cassiopeia, Gemini, Cygnus... all without problem...

But during the summer, I can find the Big Dipper and that's about it. I think I need to do some work on that...

Behind Door #1... A New Car!!!

Graduating college is one of those moments where you know everything after it is going to be different. I know, I know, that sounds horribly cliché, but receiving that diploma casts a new light on everything you do. And there are certain things a college grad is "supposed" to do.
-Get a job
-Buy a car
-Buy a house
-get married
-yada yada yada

Well, I've already got a job, or at least one that pays enough until I find a real job and go back for my Master's Degree. So I immediately went for item #2.

That's right, I bought a car.

I made the decision a while back that I would be getting a new car, but at the time I was thinking a car that was "new" to me, not necessarily a car fresh off the lot. Turns out, payments are not that different between a used vehicle and a new one, plus the new one carries the added incentive of warranty.

So I started looking, and thinking about what car I wanted. I needed something fuel efficient, especially in a year or so when I hopefully start back to North Georgia for my Masters. So big trucks were out... in fact, all trucks were out. This would require a car. I knew I did not want a Ford. Don't ask me how I knew, it was just knowledge I had. Ford was out.

I knew that Chevy was a good brand. Hey, my truck was a 1996 S-10, so I know they're good. I went to the lot, and within moments had found the car I was looking for. A 2008 Chevy Cobalt, slate metallic finish, gray interior. It's a 4-cylinder that's rate 24-26mpg city and 31-33 mpg highway, so that works very well for me.

I love this car. You guys have to see it sometime.

Late Night Meanderings

If it isn't already painfully obvious, I'm running low on things to write. Robert told me once that he went through the same thing when he graduated. It's like all the material you once had has now completely vanished, and you, the writer, and stuck with months of writer's block. I've tried to stay busy with the election coverage. I listen to the news and seek out things to write.

Yet, for all I do, the material just seems to go further away. I do want to take a moment to answer some criticisms Robert threw my way after the last post.

- I am, in no way, a supporter of Barack Obama. I do not think that the most liberal senator in Congress is the right person for the job.

- I made the claim that criticizing Obama would land a person the racist label, and likewise criticizing Hillary Clinton would earn someone the sexist label. Robert says that only idiots would do that, and for as much as I would like to agree with him, the pundits are leaning contrary to the point of view. I've already heard people say that it's racism if you don't think Obama would make a good president. I was actually told by my boss that he heard a woman say that Hillary would make a great president. Her rationale: She's a woman. Until we get beyond the petty differences of race, gender, and religion, we'll never have open, honest, intellectual debate in this country.

-I do not wish for a second coming of JFK. I have never for a moment believed that he was a great President. What put him above other candidates was is youthful exuberance... his spunk, if you will. Let's look at the last few elections:
2000: older white man vs. older white man
2004: older white man vs. older white man
2008: really older white man vs. not-quite-so-old black man vs. older white woman
Please note the important adjective in play here: OLDER.
Older candidates do not necessarily make better candidates. Experience helps, absolutely, but so does charisma. And we all know that charisma means nothing if you have no substance. So what I meant in saying that we need a younger JFK-like candidate was that we need someone who will break the mold of older candidates.

Now I'm tired.
Good night, and may God bless.

Long Hard Seemingly Endless Bataan Death March to the White House

*Special Thanks to the Daily Show, they came up with that title, which seems fittingly appropriate*

The Primary season is drawing to a gracious end. John McCain wrapped up the Republican nomination weeks ago. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been matched in a Democratic slugfest since then. Obama maintains a lead in the popular vote, states won, and delegate counts, but Clinton refuses to go away.
Many pundits say that Obama has already clinched the Democratic nomination, and all that is left is for Clinton to concede the race. Thus the rumor mill begins to churn…

Rumor is Clinton is hanging on in the race not because she thinks she can win but because she sees it as an opportunity to weaken and expose Obama. The motivation is fairly simple: John McCain is 76 years old. That means that if he wins in ’08 and goes up for re-election 2012, he’ll be 80. No one has ever been elected President at 80. Also, taking out Obama now makes he look stronger in 2012.

Another rumor says Hillary is staying in the race so that the support she draws will show Obama that she is the best pick for Vice President. An Obama/Clinton ticket, some say, would be the dream Democratic ticket, an African-American male and a white female.

Obama went on the campaign trail in West Virginia, a state he lost by a 2-to-1 margin, and he spoke at a clothing plant. During his speech he made some fairly dubious claims. Claims like “It is the right of hard working Americans to retire with respect.” I’ve read the Constitution and I didn’t see that in there. Obama also said that during his first term as President that the government would provide universal health care. That way, when the unions go to the bargaining table, they can demand higher wage instead of health coverage. This sounds great, until you realize that if a company raises wages they must raise the cost of their goods and services, or they must cut the workforce number in order to break even or make a profit. The big plan from the Democrat side of the aisle is to raise taxes 6 or 7 percent on the top 1% of wage earners in this country, a group of people who already carry nearly 12% of the tax burden. Obama even stated that if you are a senior citizen making $55,000 a year or less that you shouldn’t pay income tax at all. Sadly, it is already becoming apparent that if you disagree with Obama or his policies you will be branded a racist. Of course, disagreement with Hillary earns you the sexist label.

A study once revealed that if all the money in the US were taken and distributed equally, the richest people now would once again be the richest within five years, because they understand how to invest and make more money. But under the current tax structure success is punished and laziness and poor fiscal responsibility are rewarded.

It saddens me that there are over 300 million people living in the United States, and yet these three are the best candidates we can come up with. The polls have shown that in the last few election cycles the voting populace has been unhappy with the lack of good or even decent candidates. Yet, again we are presented with three-fold mediocrity in an election for the most powerful position in the free world.

Robert once said that our best means of electing the president was to have an American Idol style show in which we elect a drunken chimp, then let that chimp, blindfolded, throw a dart at a map of the US, then fly the chimp over the darted state, push it out of the plane, let it parachute down to the ground, and the first person it touches… that’s the President.

I have to say, that may have already happened.

I was talking to my dad a couple of days ago and he asked me what needed to happen to change the government. I told him that, if you look at the last few election cycles, you have cookie-cutter candidates. Each time someone runs for President, they are typically a white male in the 60s or older. Bill Clinton was an aberration because of the youthful charisma he brought to the office. I really think that this nation needs a younger, maverick candidate along the lines of John F. Kennedy. And I don’t think that Obama, Hillary, of McCain fit that bill.

Unfortunately, no one currently in a position of power fits the maverick style we’re looking for. The youngest a person can be to become President, according to the supreme law of the land, is 35 years old. Yet, JFK is the youngest ever, and he was in his forties when he was elected. Maybe it’s time the nation elected a younger candidate again…

Historically Factual-Fiction

History is the study of life. Now, before you say, “No, Blake, Biology is the study of life,” let me remind you that we’re talking about semantics. Life in history is not the same as life in biology. In history, we study why things happen. Sometimes we study this to learn the reasons behind events. Some people, though, realize the necessity of studying history so that we can learn the lessons of the past, and are therefore no longer doomed to repeat them.
There’s the over-generalization of history: stuff happened and people died.
There’s the over-specialization of history: “Stonewall” Jackson ate every meal standing up.
Then… there is alternate history.
I love alternate history, because it combines my two favorite school subjects, history and creative writing, in a wonderful blend of pseudo-factual fiction. World War II is the subject of much alternate history writing. What if Japan had pressed its advantage after Pearl Harbor? What if Germany had better fortified Northern France during June of 1944? What if the Allies had lost the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne? What if Japan had not spread its forces so thin in the Pacific? What if the US lost the Battle of Midway?
The list of “what if’s” is a great read. Some people think of it as morbid curiosity. I think of it as decent fiction, with the caveat of having the knowledge to know how close some of these things came to happening…
It made me think: what alternate history will be written for our generation? So I came up with a few “What If” questions concerning recent history… Granted, the details aren’t the best, I still think these are interesting…

1. What if the 2000 Florida recount had gone to Gore?
This is sort of the lynch-pin alternate history question of our time. When George W. Bush was elected President in November of 2000, the race in Florida was so close that it went to multiple recounts, finally reaching the U. S. Supreme Court, where Bush was eventually declared the victor. The Democratic Party pushed for more recounts in the state, but, in what some view as a devastating move, only wanted to recount certain counties, and not the whole state. Historians say that, had the entire state been recounted, Gore would have won the Presidency outright.
Gore would’ve taken the White House in January of 2001, and probably much like Bush, his first few months in office would have been quiet. The likelihood, though, is that the terror attacks of September 11th still would have happened. Gore’s response is the question. The military strikes on Afghanistan would still be in order, eliminating the Taliban and the safe-houses for Al-Qaeda.
Also, Gore would undoubtedly have handled the nation’s economic situation differently. The “Bush” tax cuts would not likely have happened. Nor would the “economic stimulus” check have ever been devised.

2. What if United Airlines flight 93 had reached its target?
I know that this question seems morose, but the answer needs to be studied. The most likely target of United 93 was the United States Capital Building. Had the people on the flight not fought back, and the terrorists been able to carry out their mission that day, the Capital would have been in ruins. An untold number of congressmen and Senators would be dead, and the government would be in shambles. The Legislative branch of the government would be a shell of its former self. The fallout would range from increasing the power of the Judicial and Executive branches until a new Congress was installed, or an immediate appointment of representatives by state governments. Either way, the ripple effect across the nation would be devastating.
Al-Qaeda would release tapes bragging about eliminating the government in one day. The enemies of the United States would step forward en masse, knowing that the nation had been crippled by losing most of the federal government.

3. What if the state and local governments had handled the Hurricane Katrina disaster differently?
The fallout from Hurricane Katrina and the disaster relief is one of the biggest black eyes handed out to the Bush administration. George W. Bush was blamed for everything from senior citizens left behind in flooding hospitals, to the breaking of the levees. The population of New Orleans was given ample warning of the coming storm, and the intensity it would bring. Some people left of their own accord, other banded together to get out. But some were too poor to leave. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin had the opportunity to effect great change in the evacuation, but he did nothing. Hundreds of city school buses sat in flooded lots in the days after the storm. By simply getting the bus drivers to go house to house, getting people together to escape the wrath of the storm, Nagin could have forever altered history. Instead, the buses sat empty and Nagin and many other began pointing at FEMA.
Four days before the storm hit, weather forecasts were saying New Orleans was directly in the path of the Category 5 storm. The eye passed just miles from the city, but the storm graciously weakened to a Category 3 before landfall. Still, vast stretches of I-10 over Lake Ponchatrain were demolished.
In the alternative history, Nagin launched a fleet a buses. As the inhabitants of the Lower Ninth Ward evacuated, the Hurricane slammed into the coast, battering a deserted city. In the aftermath of the storm, FEMA moved in, with the aid of the state government, and successfully rendered aid to the people.

4. What if FDR had lived to the end of his fourth term as President?
Franklin D. Roosevelt served the longest amount of time as President in the nation’s history. Sadly, he died during his fourth term, just before the end of World War II. Harry Truman took over the office and ended the war with the use of the atomic bomb.
Bu what if FDR had survived? There are two competing schools of thought. The first says FDR would’ve stepped down, rolling back the myriad programs he put in place under the New Deal to save the country from the Depression. The other claims that he would’ve run for re-election again, saying “okay, you want it, you got it, I’m King Rooselvelt.”

5. What if there was no Clay Aiken?
One can only dream.

How Do I Title This?

The Rush is over.
The Dust is settled.
The crowd has gone home.

The Diploma is now neatly framed, with the tassle, and hanging on the living room wall.
The bookbag has been stowed in the closet, not to see the light of day for at least a year or so.

I've got four and a half months until the GRE.
I have free time. Lot's a free time. Of course, I'm working everyday, pulling down 40 to 45 hours a week, now. But it seems empty, because there's no more class. I'm not saying I have no class... I just have no class(es) to take. I'm done. Graduation signaled a lot of things.

I'm the first in my family to graduate college, or more precisely, earn a Bachelor's degree. I pride myself on that fact. Now, my friends will tell you that I'm egotistical... and they're right... at least concerning academics. Don't let the GPA fool you. I'm proud of my intelligence. For a long time I considered it the one good aspect of my being. Now, it's one of a few... on a list that seems to grow daily.

My dad asked me the other day why I don't sign up and try-out for a spot on Jeopardy!? I'm thinking about it. I realized that I am the epitome of a late-bloomer. I've basically waited until my mid-twenties to start doing things. Some of it I regret, but mostly, I couldn't be happier with the choices I've made in life.

I'm going to start writing again, and I mean really writing. I've got one of those ideas that stays in your head forever, and you know that if you don't write it... well, let's just say you know you have to write it.

Oh, and the music! I bought my first bass the other day, and I love it. I've played guitar for about ten years now, and the bass is so different that it's amazing. Plus, my musical taste is all over the spectrum now, so I have a wide array of things to learn. I'm basically a learning junkie.

My new-found free time is teaching me a lot about me.
Robert, find the chain-smoking monkey and the abacus, we've got studying to do!

Post-Grad Existence: Recap of Week One

Part I: Surprise!
Life in my new Post-Graduation world is full of surprises. I recall one time reading a FoxTrot comic strip about New Years Day (it was either 1999 or 2000, I don’t recall the year) in which Roger Fox turns to his wife, Andy, and says something to the effect of: “So, this is the future, huh? I would’ve thought we’d have flying cars by now… shouldn’t Martin Landau be on the Moon of something…”

Well, this is the future. No, there are no flying cars, and unless the news has been very quiet about it, I don’t think Martin Landau is on the Moon. Abe Vigoda is still alive though.

And I’ve been a graduate for a full week. What have I been doing for the last week, you might ask. Work. That, and battling allergies that are threatening to take me out of this life before I even take the GRE. Seriously, I have some much sinus pressure built up that I feel like one of those stress-reliever dolls that’s eyes bulge out when you squeeze it.

But life throws surprises at you all the time. Whether you surprise those around you by suddenly deciding to go on to grad school. Or whether you surprise yourself by suddenly deciding to go on to grad school.



Part II: The Right Call
As crazy as it sounds, I’m actually looking at the world in a different light. I realized the other day as I talked to some of the teenagers at my church that my decision to teach was the right one. They go to public schools, and, even with all that is going on in the news, they had no idea about the governmental changes in Russia. Not one of them knew about the staggering death toll in Myanmar. One of them even said that we should just nuke the terrorists and take the oil for ourselves.

I don’t fault these kids for their ignorance. They haven’t been taught to dig deeper. They’re trained to memorize information for a brief time, and then, after taking the test, dispose of it, clean out their memory banks, and prepare for a new batch of information. They have no concept of taking previously learned information and building a greater understanding by combining it with new knowledge. That’s the problem with teaching to the test, not teaching to the knowledge. And even then, you can’t truly blame the teachers. The education system is built on test scores and memorization, not understanding. If you know that Hitler was a mass-murdering jerk who died, why bother understanding the motivating factors behind his political ideals and aspirations?

Part III: Politics
This should come out of left field, but I think at some point in my life I’m going to run for office. Not because I have any particular political ambition, but because someone needs to go to Washington and make some noise. I always hear about politicos not rocking the boat. I really think that the boat needs to be capsized, sunk, and then salvaged and rebuilt. I also think that it’s never too late to effect great change. Throughout the years, generation after generation has had its struggles, and each one effected change in some form or another.

Part IV: Books
This will be my summer of reading. I’m in the middle of Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series, and it is fantastic beyond telling. I’m also looking forward to the release of the final book in the Star Wars: Legacy of the Force series.

Part V: Movies
There are way too many movies coming out this year that I want to see. Some, of course, are already out:
Iron Man
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Dark Knight
Just to name a few.

Part VI: What to do...
Lots. Oh, and I still have to start that doctoral thesis at some point...

Post-Grad Existence

The day has come and gone. Graduation night, May 2008. I now understand why Robert said that the post-graduation entry was the toughest to write. The myriad feelings, emotions, and excitements can hardly be described. We’re now an entire weekend removed from the event, and it’s still difficult to describe.

The day started with an arrival at North Georgia College & State University, for the last time as an undergraduate. I met up with Lauren and Colin, two people with whom I was to graduate, and of course, Michele and Angela. For those of you not in the know, or not on Facebook, Angela and I are married.

We stood outside in cap and gown regalia, the full gravity of the situation slowly settling in. In two hours time, we would be done. Finished with our undergraduate studies… forever. Until you actually graduate college, you won’t understand how big that is. Like Robert said, you’re expected to graduate form High School. In fact, not graduating from High School is the academic equivalent of Epic Fail. But college is different. Graduating college proves that you wanted it. You earned it. You fought for years to achieve it.

And so we stood. We talked. We laughed. We took pictures (in the picture above, that's me, far right). As the clock wound down to 6:15pm, we began the walk to our designated line-up area. Colin and I were able to sit beside each other, but Lauren was unfortunately on the other side of the aisle from us. As we marched in, the excitement grew more and more palpable. Colin and I kept saying, “This is it. We’re graduating!”

We marched into the gym, Pomp & Circumstance all around. Taking our seats, the ceremony began. I watched as faculty members sat poised in regal robes. The best were Dr. Jespersen’s: a red-and-black number that was more Dark Lord of Sith than college professor.

Then came the moment. First the Military students were confirmed as graduates. Then, the Honors students. Finally, the riff-raff like myself were asked to stand. President Potter looked out over the crowd and confirmed us all as graduates of the University, with full rights and privileges as Alum. Like Robert once said, that moment hits you like a sack of bricks. We were done. All that was left was to actually walk up and receive our diplomas.

As my name was called and I shook hands with President Potter and then walked across the stage to shake hands with Dr. Bennett, my advisor, I was so shot-through with adrenaline that I forgot to turn my tassle. In fact, I didn’t even turn it until I was already off the stage. I told you, this moment was big. You tend to forget things in all the excitement.

After all the names were called, and the last student had crossed the stage, the procession out of the gym began. Freedom. We walked out, shaking hands with various professors, hugging our friends, knowing that things would never quite be the same again. And oh, the pictures that were taken!

I haven’t been photographed so much in all my life. Robert and Colin and I posed for what is possibly the most distinguished picture of me ever. I’ve got pictures with my Mom and Dad, both sets of grandparents, with Robert, Colin, Lauren, Michele, Cindy, Laura, and possibly a few people I’ve never met. That’s how it goes, I guess. Then, everyone began departing. That moment, to me, was the most bittersweet time of the night. We would never be together like that again.

So with the ceremony over and the crowd thinning out, Robert and I decided that it was time to eat. So, off to Caruso’s we went. Sadly, there was terrible karaoke happening in the next room, so our meal was not entirely enjoyable. After eating, and me saying “I’m done!” every fifteen minutes or so, we went back and walked around the drill field and the campus. I know it sounds cliché, but the place actually looked a little different.

Well, the ceremony ended at 8:15 Friday night. After spending time with many different friends, I finally arrived home at 4:15 Saturday morning, exhausted. The weekend was sort of a blur. I saw everyone again Saturday night, sans Robert and Angela, at a cookout at Lauren’s house. We sat and talked. We reminisced about old times. The rift of rock awesomeness was brought up a couple of times. We played ping-pong and darts. We laughed some more. We were celebrating the end of an era.

I can’t even describe how odd it is to sit here and say, “I don’t have to go back to class in August.” In fact, class probably won’t start again for me for about a year of so. I’m signed up to take the GRE with Robert in September. I also, at some point, have to take the GACE I and GACE II tests. Then, we apply for the Master of Arts in Teaching program, right back at North Georgia. It’s amazing, in a way. A month ago I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. I had ideas, of course, but as for a plan… well, nothing had really materialized. Then, something snapped and I said, “I want to teach college.” So, I’m on the road to a Masters degree and eventually a Doctorate. This, then, is the plan of the world’s greatest academic procrastinator.

Ceasefire: Part II

Tomorrow is the big day. It’s the day that everything before now has been leading to. It’s the day that I’ve fought for since High School ended. Tomorrow… I graduate college.

I’ve been thinking the past few days about what my time at North Georgia College and State University has meant to me. There’s an old saying: “If I had it all to do again…” Well, I wouldn’t change anything. The choices that I made over time brought some of the most wonderful people into my life. The struggles I’ve encountered have most certainly made me stronger. I think I’m ready for the next stage in my life.

As I finished the last final exam I had to take as an undergraduate, the noise in my head seemed to stop. The Ceasefire, as I called it. The end, which had been looming so ominously on the horizon, was no longer near; the end had come, and I had strolled right past it to a new beginning. Although the official ceremony is not until tomorrow night, I was already there. I had made it. I had… survived.

I had survived the grueling semesters with 20-hour course loads. I had survived paper after paper, and of course, those papers grew longer as I progressed through the years. I had survived the worst professor I have even had the privilege of being in class with. I had survived (somewhat) standing up to the Dean of Arts & Letters before an entire class of Juniors and Seniors. I survived the wait as the final grades began trickling in.

Now, I'm ready. Tomorrow is big. Really big. So big, it's tough to comprehend. But tomorrow does not just mark the end of college. Grad school calls. Maybe I should go on and start on that doctoral thesis...