throw-back thursday: graduation

Who am I kidding? All my latest posts are "throw-backs" whether it's Thursday or not.

Today's memory is our graduation. We both officially graduated from BYU in August 2010 (after having completed the same online course together for our final needed credits).

What, you didn't know? Oh, don't worry—it's because we didn't really have a graduation. We didn't walk the walk or listen to the talk. We sort of had a ceremony with my design class which was awesome, but we did not wear that cap or gown and we did not take pictures together with the tulips or the cougar.

Let it be known that I regret this. That wasn't my original plan. I had all good intentions of following every graduation formality. I even prepared film to letterpress announcements, but in the end, maybe it wasn't meant to be?  I kind of knew in the moment that I would regret ditching it, but I still succumbed to the fact that I was really busy with finals and preparing my final show, not to mention my loved ones insisted it was a boring, pricey hub-bub for all involved. But if I knew all along that I would regret it, I wonder why I didn't just do it for myself? And for my posterity? And for my Grandpa? Yes, Grandpa Ord would have loved to be boring with me!

I settled on the idea that we could borrow robes and take pictures before the tulips were plucked. (If you aren't familiar with BYU, you should know their flowers don't die. They are plucked. Not picked by rude students, but uprooted by student employees. I know.) But alas, there was no real "deadline" for that and it never happened before we left Utah. And this is why I'm sad about it:

This degree was the hardest thing I ever did. And actually, it still is. It was harder than a mission. And I didn't know know this at the time, but it was also harder than labor & delivery (and even recovery). All you other college grads may snicker, but to each his own, right? Are there any law school grads that read this? Would you be offended if I said that I think my Bachelor's was as hard as your JD? I know, I've never been to law school, but I worked at BYU Law School for almost 5 years and I really think us BFA graphic design students across the street were working just as long and hard. (In fact, ultimately, the BFA was why I had to quit that wonderful job). I'm not saying it was hell. It wasn't. I really, really loved it and I wouldn't have chosen any other way to graduate if I could go back. But it was still really, really hard for me. It involved many successes and failures. Much stress and stretching. Lots of good learning and loving. And lots and lots of really late nights/all-nighters. (My school sleep was way worse than sleeping with a newborn, or even with the current Cohen who wakes more at night than he did as a newborn.) There are lots of nitty gritty details I'd be happy to share, but I'll spare the blog world and instead you can call me for that. (Because I officially have a 'real' phone now after about 3 years!) Are you feeling me yet? This little paper I'm holding above: It's a big deal.

Poor Ben probably had to learn this the hard way—I was planning at least a little dinner "ceremony" with homemade paper graduation hats when the diplomas arrived in the mail—something to make a big deal of this big deal. My pregnant self broke into tears when he opened it right from the mailbox. He was a good sport though and at least we have these crappy pictures even though I later destroyed my homemade caps and I don't even remember what "special dinner" we ate.

Anyway, so now you know I am evil and don't consider Cohen my greatest accomplishment. If I had to choose between the two, you're right, I'd choose my babe. But my other baby, The Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Brigham Young University, was a more challenging accomplishment I am proud to call mine.

So proud, in fact, that I am blogging about it over a year later.