The Graduate

Well folks...I'm a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Four years have gone by rather quickly, and I just finished a weekend of celebration and goodbyes. To think I started this blog as I entered my freshmen year of college, and here we still are today. I documented mixers and frat parties, outings with my world lit class, and trips to TX-OU Weekend. There were a few Round Up photos, and class schedules and Spring Break plans varied year to year. I have loved all four years at Texas, four years in Austin, studying Plan II and History. I am thankful for the friendships I have made, the work I have produced, and the adventures I have experienced.
But enough of this nostalgic rant.


Thank you for sending me to Texas, for believing in me, for cheering me on, for sharing P Terry's and road trips, for funding all of my adventures, for challenging me, but most importantly, for loving me. #sherryandlarry #hookem


I attended and walked at both the History Commencement Ceremony (Friday at Bass Concert Hall at 6 pm) and the Plan II Commencement (Saturday morning at Hogg Auditorium at 9 am.) Several people remarked, "you're ending college where you first began it!" I suppose orientation took place once upon a time at Hogg Auditorium. Also, sorority recruitment started there. #nostalgic So I guess I really have come full circle.

Following the History ceremony on Friday, my family enjoyed dinner at Italian restaurant Olive & June. Following the Plan II ceremony on Saturday, my family and I joined several of my dear friends and their respective families for brunch at Green Pastures.
I am really thankful for this bunch. I greatly enjoyed living with them last year at 311 E. 38th, aka the Tom Green House. I think we are all doing some pretty great things. Kelley is off to culinary school. Peters is off to the chapel and then New York. Shelley is pursuing big jobs and creative things in Austin. And I have returned the Houston to....well stay tuned. Thank you for everything, sweet friends.

131st Spring Commencement at The University of Texas at Austin
The graduation weekend ended with the University Commencement Ceremony for the University of Texas at Austin. 8,686 graduates at this 131st commencement ceremony. Admiral William McRaven delivered the commencement speech and offered the following ten pieces of advice.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.

If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.

If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

So, If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.

If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.

So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.

If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

To conclude, McRaven said:

To the graduating class of 2014, you are moments away from graduating. Moments away from beginning your journey through life. Moments away starting to change the world—for the better.

It will not be easy.

But, YOU are the class of 2014—the class that can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century.

Start each day with a task completed.

Find someone to help you through life.

Respect everyone.

Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if take you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up—if you do these things, then next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today and—what started here will indeed have changed the world—for the better.

Thank you very much. Hook 'em horns.

You should definitely watch the whole speech HERE, and check out the transcript HERE.