Kate's Graduation

On Saturday June 9^th, after spending hours battling the sun and crowds for seats in the bleachers (and parking!), I was overlooking a football field with tears streaming as I watched Kate throw her hat up in the air and graduate.  In that moment alone, travelling the over 10,000 miles with the stress of finals and my thesis and crappy airline food was worth it.

 

Anxiously waiting to see the graduate from the stands!

I had never been to another university graduation besides my own, and sitting on the other side of the stadium looking at the graduates is a much different perspective.  It was a sea of people and I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to find her between the other 6,000 graduates.  As we texted each other our whereabouts using markers such as “the big ugly speakers” or “behind the obnoxious family with the color coordinated outfits” I heard a distant cowbell, followed by Kate screaming.  There were ten of us in the bleachers that day to support Kate in matching green and gold flower leis (Cal Poly colors!) and as soon as we spotted her jumping up and down on top of her chair, we all stood up cheering.

Kate had two graduations – one with the entire university, and then one for her college and department.  We had a great time that weekend with dinners, drinks and dancing and truly celebrated her accomplishment in style.

Introducing...The Graduate!

Dancing over dinner!

I feel incredibly honored to have been able to be there for such an important day, and cannot gush enough about how proud I am.  

Upon graduating, Kate has secured a coveted working holiday visa…in Australia, and will spend the next year working and traveling down under.  I am particularly excited that she is coming East – and will only be a few hours away as opposed to over 24!  

Kate, I am so proud of you for your incredible accomplishments and really look forward to our Aussie + Asian adventures.  I love you lots.