Welcome to the real world

...that's what they told us when we graduated highschool but I guess this time it's fer real. Convocation was yesterday and it was bittersweet. The founder of WarChild Canada, Samantha Nutt, received an honorary degree from Western and she gave a very powerful and eye-opening speech. It was kind of depressing at parts because of the reminder that we're graduating into a world of financial collapse, environmental tragedy, and 24 active war-torn countries. The age of irresponsible self-interests is over, although she believes that it is not something to be feared or grieved. She urged us to tackle the many problems that our parent's generations have left behind for us, reverting the damage that they have left on our planet.
"Ask yourself the big questions, "who am I?" and "what do I want to do with my life?". At this crossroads of our lives it's important to not lose sight of those important age-old questions. We all want to live the "good life" but it's so easy to get lost in the daily grind and become short-sighted about our goals in life. After all, as my neuroscience prof once said, "the most important thing you learn from going to university is how to delay gratification and to work towards a higher goal". Even though I have chosen a long and arduous path with graduate school, delaying gratification until my early thirties, I know that ultimately it is the only path that will truly satisfy my intellectual needs and will make me happy.

I had to be at the University at 8:45 am, which meant waking up at 5 am to drive there. I did my makeup in the car lol. Finally some "outfit posts" of me in my graduation regalia!

Honors Bachelor of Science! The outfit is all about the shoes because you can't see anything else. I had huge blisters on my feet by the end of the day >< Good bye Western. It has been a bumpy yet thoroughly satisfying ride.

I'm off on vacation next week to Punta Cana! I've never been to the ocean (nor do I know how to swim...). I can't wait to sip pina coladas, swing on a hammock between palm trees and soak up the sun ^_^