Congratulations - University of Virginia - 2009

On Sunday May 17 under threatening skies 6,200 University of Virginia graduates gathered to celebrate passing final exams and turning in their last term papers.

Armed with balloons and wearing mortar boards they gathered in front of the rotunda...



flowed up the steps....


and over the colonnade.


Here is where we catch a first glimpse of our graduate.




For 30 minutes they kept coming for the ceremony on the lawn where 30,000 friends and family members and almost as many umbrellas waited.

As events of this size can be, this occasion proved to be less well organized than this participant and her spousal unit desired. We bailed part way through the pageant and ate lunch at our girl's dorm room, rejoining the about-to-be-graduate at the departmental diploma awarding ceremony.



Check out the smile on our girl seated with fellow Sociology undergrads inside Old Cabell Hall.

And as a proud mother, I must mention that she received an engraved pewter Jefferson cup and cash award for the best undergraduate Sociology paper for the 2008-2009 academic year.

In the obligatory pose, looking proud and a little stuffy.

And

As I requested she made this list entitled:

And, some things I learned in college.

I don't hate tofu as much as I thought.

Ramen can be spruced up.

Volunteering is a great way to spend your time-- you get to know people, and you feel as if you are making a difference.

Moving is an absolutely miserable way to spend one's time.

Studying abroad is invaluable. It is a great way to learn a language, learn about a culture, and learn about people.

You have to define yourself in a way that suits you. No joining an organization just for the prestige or the networking-- it has to be something that interests you.

How to study creatively and effectively.

The value of knowledge.

There is valuable knowledge to be gained from working with a variety of people with diverse perspectives.

A reaffirmation that boys are nothing but trouble.

All in all, not a bad way to spend the weekend.
Carina
(Proud Mom)