The Graduate

Fresh off the stage as the newest BYU graduate!!

I'm done; school is over and I have a masters degree - I can not even believe it! Graduating from BYU was such a bitter-sweet experience for me. I am totally a classic nerd. I love everything about school (reading, lectures, walking to class, late night study sessions, the pressure of an exam, and even the office supplies), and yet I was so ready to move on to the next phase of my life as well. 

Graduation was wonderful and I felt so so so blessed to have my family there to support me! They have been such a strength to me as I have completed my school work and have been all the encouragement I have needed to make it through. I had quite the section of supporters in the crowd: Michael, my mom and dad, Bradley and Andrew,  Steve and Jane Anne, Marlies, Grandma and Grandpa Lambert, and Grammy and Grandpa Murphy. I felt so special and loved that all of these people were able to be there! 

I was lucky and blessed to have both sets of my grandparents with me. I love all four of them and they are such amazing examples to me of the person that I hope to become! 

Taryn walked the same day as me, even though she officially finished classes in December. We were roommates for our first two years of college, and we have been best friends ever since! Some of my very best memories of BYU were made hanging with this girl! 

These ladies got me through the accounting program - study groups often turned into just chatting sessions because we were all just burnt out. They are all such accomplished women, and they are definitely going to make a difference in this world - in more ways that just accounting! 

The Tanner Building was my home away from home for the three years that I studied accounting. I have to admit, it was not a bad building to be stuck in all the time compared to other places on campus. The accounting program was definitely hard and taxing (no pun intended), but I know that it made me a better person for it and has prepared me for a successful life ahead. I developed meaningful friendships with my colleges and professors, and that makes all of the hard work worth it. 

The most important thing I learned in that intense program was that I can do hard things. I was so intimidated as I applied to and started in the School of Accountancy, but I did it! I put my mind to it and before I knew it, I was done and had accomplished all that I had set out to do. I can do hard things! 

I have loved every minute I spent at BYU; it will always hold a special little place in my heart. One good thing about Michael still being a student is I get the best of both worlds; he even said I can buy his books for him in the fall :)