VT Graduation: Coming Full Circle | A Thought and a Half

College graduation is a time for nostalgia and reminiscing. I first set foot on Virginia Tech’s campus in September of 2007, my sophomore year of high school. My family came to Blacksburg to see the Carolina Tar Heels–my parents’ alma mater and my at-the-time dream school–play the Hokies. Since Chapel Hill is a long trip from where we live in PA, we thought coming to Blacksburg would be more convenient.

We booked the trip through the Carolina Alumni Association, so we stayed outside of Blacksburg and came in on a bus with other UNC alumni. The bus dropped us off on the Alumni Mall side of Squires Student Center, and we walked from there to Lane.

Last weekend, when I walked out of my third and final graduation–the English department ceremony–I stepped out onto the (almost) exact same place where I first stepped nearly seven years ago.

Started from the bottom, now I’m here?

Graduation weekend was an absolute whirlwind; it hasn’t quite hit me that it all really happened. I remember sitting in Lane Stadium and listening to President Steger address me as a “student” for the last time as he conferred our degrees. I remember Dr. Denton handing me my diploma at the communication department ceremony in Cassell Coliseum. I remember Dr. Eska calling my name at the English ceremony. It’ll come sooner or later, I’m sure. Regardless, I am so proud to call myself a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. There’s nowhere else I’d rather have spent the last four years. I will forever call myself a Hokie and I am forever proud to be a member of the Hokie Nation. I am thankful for my friends and family that supported me throughout the process, and who were there to celebrate with me last weekend.

Roomies!

Love you, Lee!

The comm kids.

My favorites!

I finished summa cum laude with a double major in communication and English. I can’t wait to frame my diploma and display it proudly.

Friday night, I celebrated with Kevin (who was awesome and stayed in town all weekend until the minute I left my apartment for good), my parents, and my grandparents on my mom’s side. We had a lovely dinner at The Mansion at Fort Chiswell. Saturday, my family (minus grandparents, plus Kevin) celebrated with Jordan and her family at Beliveau Estate & Winery. We had a wonderful evening tasting and drinking wine, eating delicious food, and blowing bubbles.

Next stop? Eastern Europe for two weeks. After that, I’m moving to Elon in late July. This summer is going to fly by, and I’m ready for it. Bring it on!
Happy summer and congrats to all the grads!

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