Hats off to the graduates!

I can't believe I graduated from college yesterday.

Tyler came to Chapel Hill on Friday night after work and we went to Franklin Street to celebrate the end of the year along with the remaining students that stayed in town for graduation. The bars were (not surprisingly) packed. We settled on a few Yuenglings and Long Island Iced Teas at Carolina Coffee Shop for awhile. The next morning I had to help check out straggling residents that hadn't left yet before packing up my own room. Mom and Dad came up and helped load everything in the car and we all got ready for graduation.

Knowing that I still have four more years of pharmacy school before I can actually graduate from school, I saw this graduation ceremony as more of a formality (and a requirement set forth by my Mom) and initially was pretty nonchalant about attending. But, being that it was Mother's Day weekend and I wouldn't be home on Sunday to celebrate, I humored her by purchasing the cap and gown and sending in my RSVP card.

I expected a lot of family photos, cliche graduation speeches and the standard graduation music. What I didn't expect, however, was the overwhelming feeling that came along with walking across that stage. Being a W, I was in the very last row of graduates, giving me enough time to stare at the daunting staircase that led to the stage and then back down at my 4-inch heels, praying that I wouldn't be forever leaving my legacy as that girl who tripped at graduation. With every name called, I got more nervous about my hat falling off, my hair looking weird, tripping up the stairs, etc. Finally, it was our turn. When I got up to the steps, I don't remember if they even pronounced my name right. I do remember that I have never felt so happy in my entire life.

There was a reception that followed the graduation ceremony so Tyler's family (who had come to Chapel Hill to see me graduate as well!) and my family went outside to take pictures. Afterwards, we grabbed a beer from He's Not Here, one of Chapel Hill's legendary bars that somehow I hadn't managed to visit in my time as a student, and then Tyler and I headed to Kannapolis with his family so we could get ready for our (really early) flight on Monday morning to CANCUN, MEXICO! This will be my last blog post for a week while we enjoy the sun, sand, and alcohol at The Royal in Cancun, a 5-star all-inclusive resort. While there, we're also going on a day-long trip that includes a tour of an ancient Mayan ruin, kayaking through a river, climbing the highest peak in the Yucatan Peninsula and zip-lining through a forest. Other than that, we'll be relaxing on the hammock of our oceanfront balcony, laying by the pool, and lounging on the beach while the "beach butlers" bring drinks, food, suntan lotion, and magazines. I'll be sure to update when we get back, but for now, here are more pictures from graduation weekend.

Happy summer!

Nicole