estelle gonzales: from graduand to graduate...

another chapter is over. another blog begins.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

today was convocation. sitting patiently in my chair for 3 grueling hours of speeches and a couple hundred students receiving their degree before me gave me ample time to reflect on the 5 year-long journey that is - now was - my undergrad career at the university of waterloo.

i remebered first setting foot on university campus 5 years ago, as a very naive, bright-eyed and vulnerable frosh with the bittersweet taste of newly-given independence in my mouth. i had embedded in my mind that attending university would allow me the opportunity to re-invent myself... but while sitting there among the other graduates this afternoon, i realized that my university years didn't really give much room for re-invention, but rather gave me the 5-year chance to define and even more so refine what was already there to begin with.

to believe that it's all come to a close now seems somewhat surreal - even till now, a significant part of me hasn't completely come to terms with all the hoopla just yet. and as much as i hate to admit it, i know i'll miss waterloo - everything from the amazing friends i've made, to the inspirational profs who actually took the time to encourage and push me to the limit, along with the nazi-like profs that scared the heebeegeebees out of me (names will not be mentioned, but most of you know who i'm talking about! all i can say is that i will never read thomas hardy the same way again! :oS); to even the familiar poo-scent that gives waterloo its unmistakable character - all of it will always be a part of me.

... and yes, even the drama ;o)

initially, the thought of attending convocation didn't strike me as something i wanted to do on my on free will (originally, my mom wanted it more than i did :oP). but i'm actually pretty glad that i went. and hey, 'twas a great feeling to know that the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed during all those all-nighters writing essays and reading over a plethora of poems, epic novels, shakesperean plays, post-colonial wonderment, and critical theories were actually all worth something in the end. :o)

so after all that's been said and done in the past 5 years of my undergrad career at waterloo, i let out a huge sigh of relief and look forward to embracing the uncertainty that will unfold after today.

hats off to the graduating class of 2005! :o)