Celebrating Graduation

On Friday we celebrated Alison's graduation from the PMBA program. It was a super exciting day. We woke up early and headed to the U for a special PMBA breakfast event. Alison got all checked in, had a few pictures taken, put on her cap and gown, and ate a little breakfast. We didn't know at the time, but apparently, there were a couple of breakfasts. One for all business grads, which was okay, and one for PMBA students that apparently was amazing. We totally ate the less good breakfast.

We hung out with Alison's friends. She made a great group of friends during the PMBA. All the students were put into groups at the start of the program and most of the groups drifted apart over the two years, but her group stayed close. They were a consistent support system. It was fun to see how excited they were to be graduating together.

Alison's brother, Jake, also graduated during the same ceremony. He got a bachelor's degree in Marketing. There were a lot of people there to support them. My grandparents came to support Alison, which was super nice of them. Alison's parents were there, as well as, her sister Kristin, her brother-in-law, Dan, her niece, Skylee, her grandmother, Aleene, and her sister-in-law, Meg. Meg's parents, Mitch and Melanie, were also there to support Jake.

Graduation was very inspiring. Dean Randall gave a wonderful speech. He told a very appropriate story. The moral of the story was that there are an equal number of happy and sad people who a rich and who are poor. He proposed that happiness comes from living a well-rounded life full of rich experiences and relationships. He encouraged the graduates to make sure they were happy.

We all cheered as Alison walked and waited patiently for Jake. When they called Jake's name we all missed it. They called it early and he put a different middle name. It was a big-time fail on our part.

After graduation, we exchanged hugs and congratulations. Then we went to Little America for lunch. Mitch and Melanie gave Alison a book for graduation. It was such a nice present. That night we went over to Kristin and Dan's for a graduation/birthday party (it was also Skylee's fourth birthday). It was so much fun to spend time with family. There was no more appropriate way to end the day.

I am so proud of Alison. This is a really big accomplishment. Leading up to graduation Alison often commented that it was hard to get into graduation because she still has two classes to complete over the summer, but on this actual day, it was certainly sinking in. Alison worked so hard to keep up with her responsibilities at her full-time job, family demands, and school two or more nights a week, plus homework on most weekends. It was an immense sacrifice. Here she is at the other end. I could not be more proud. Alison truly is the most talented, hard-working, kind, determined, authentic, and brave person I know.