Pomp & Circumstance

Tonight marked the 4th time that I've been to my high school's graduation. I know that's nothing compared to some people, especially the long-employed teachers who have are there every year at the ceremony, some hovering around 30 years! But tonight serves to remind me just how much time has passed between my high school graduation and now...5 years...and how much has changed about me and in my life. Priorities completely realigned, different and new friendships, lots of experiences that are true only to being in college...the list goes on. I looked out on the field of the Class of 2007 tonight and I was hit with a sense of nostalgia, and of jealousy. Jealous because many of those graduates were on the cusp of going off to college, taking their first steps into their futures, and I wanted to be in that position again. I would give a lot to be going into my freshman year at Carolina once more, because those four years are an experience you could do over and over again and have it be different each time. It's definitely a thing of "If I knew then what I know now." Along with "If I could do it all over again, what would I do differently?" Some part of me misses the naive 18 year old that I was prior to coming to college. For now I feel weathered, hardened, and battle-scarred. (And through all that I still manage to look young. :-p I could never figure how to look grown-up.)

I am very excited that Sarah (my brother's gf) is getting to embark on this experience, though. She's going to ECU to study nursing, and is extremely smart. I'm hoping she enjoys college life just as much as I did, and Justin does as well.