BEEP BEEP (Future Talk) Pomp and Circumstance

This past Saturday marks the moment where I left my longest job as a student, and moved over into the world of not students. After around 18 years of my life being determined by teachers and professors, syllabi's and book lists, essays and exams, you'd think that I'd explode with excitement or die of sorrow, but neither was the case. I just feel like I need a break; maybe later I will start to feel weird, but not now.

The ceremonial changing of my definition in life came and went through 3 student speakers give their shout outs, and around 300 kids--excuse me, freshly made adults--walk across the stage of the Greek Theatre and pick up a fake diploma. While I was incredibly excited to hear my name and make my family proud for the second weekend in a row, I was more excited about stepping on the stage where I saw Arcade Fire and Wilco. Even Mario Savio got tackled and arrested on this stage! I began to wonder why this was more interesting to me, and why I couldn't fully appreciate walking across the stage to shake the hand of a very important English lady in a house of the highest public education in the country.

What was wrong with me? Was it because my family didn't bring an obnoxious air horn?

Only after the last flash bulb had blinded me in a less than flattering photo by GradImages, I realized that my lack of enthusiasm for the academic graduating was the most comforting thing in my life at this moment. I was excited about music. Getting giddy about past performances at the Greek Theatre not only jump starts my passion for music, but it also pushes me to continue to strive for my goal as a music journalist. Recently I have been doubting my dream job because of set backs and intimidation, but as I walked across that stage to grab my fake legal document I knew that I had the power of an English degree and it could help me come back to this "Athens of the West" to see more shows like Van Morrison or Daft Punk and remember that I do have a voice worth speaking.

Now for your enjoyment here are some photos of the ceremony. All photography credit goes to Julia Pennick.













(oh yeah it was also the day of the Rapture)

BLEEP BLEEP (Future Talk) Graduating

In the last couple of days I have been lurking around the Cal Student Store because the daunting task of graduating from my last years of institutionalized education are coming to a crashing halt in less than a month. While there will no doubt be tears and camera flash bulbs going off on the day of the event, the planning has become just as much of a hassle as finals.

After shelling out over 200 dollars for semi necessary things (a cap and gown, thank you notes, a metal license plate holder, etc), it really began to hit me that I won't be going to school anymore. Never again packing up my life to move back to Berkeley, needing to look for an apartment closer to campus, picking classes on the adorably named telebears.

While my listings may seem sad and nostalgic, there is nothing I would like more than to get outta dodge and really start my life. Today I had to pick up my major commencement tickets at the "grad fair" and was greated by booths that reminded me that my graduation is the first step into maturity with free gifts such as...



a mini penant!



TEMPORARY TATTOOS

Nothing says adulthood like washable skin stickers. Class of 2011 represent.