Graduation: the day!

Ok so the day finally arrived, and I was so excited!!! After picking up my cap and gown, the first thing I did was send this SnapChat...

 

After continuing to pack, clean and hang out with Krysta, I then got ready and headed to Commencement! Here, I found Brittany. Brittany was one of the first people that I knew in Rexburg, and her family is a HUGE part of the reason that I ever made it out there in the first place! She and her now husband Ben drove me up to school on the first day, and helped me move in!

Here we are graduating from seminary together in 2010....

And here we are graduating from university together three years later!! I'm so grateful to have had this lady in my life :)

I even got a GIANT fortune cookie from Brittany's dad- perfect graduation gift!!

I got to graduate with more friends that I had anticipated!!

Garth was serving as a missionary in Ghana when I was there on holiday visiting my Grandma in 2008. My mum invited the missionaries at the time to our house, and we talked about all our plans etc. Although I was 16 and had no idea what would come in the future, I told Garth that I'd probably be going to BYU... and here we are both graduating from Biology at BYUI!!! He had been SUCh a help during my last semester as we had two of the same classes and often studied together. With the help of his awesome wife Amy and perfect little boy Camden, we made it through our last semester all the way to graduation!!

Obviously Todd Taylor and I have been best friends for the longest time, and I'm so glad that I got to graduate with him by my side. Also we were in High School Musical. Can't you tell from the awesome high jump we did?

Our friend Reece was working commencement as a security guard, so I got to see him too!!

I was blessed to have the Klumpp family come and cheer me on! My family couldn't make it out due to expenses and time, but I was so grateful that this family that has always looked out for, and cared for me, could make it out to  support me on his big day!

(best friend duh)

After all the fun and festivities, I went back to Krysta and Paul's house and just relaxed with the family. It was such an awesome day, and I am so grateful for the love and support I received at graduation, and throughout my entire undergraduate career.

Graduation: pictures your mum would like.

My friend Davon Larson at River Larson Film was kind enough to take some nice pictures of Erin and I in our caps and gowns the day before graduation, because we knew we'd be really busy on the actual day of. They turned out preetttyyy nice. 

Thanks Dav!!!

Graduation: lasts.

So towards the end of my time in Rexburg, I realized that I actually had to be real about it, and accept the fact that some goodbyes were in order. 

I couldn't quite figure out why it was so hard for me to say goodbye to Rexburg and the people and things that I would leave behind. When leaving London to move Stateside, it was not that difficult! Maybe somewhere deep down I knew that leaving London was a temporary situation, and that I would end up back there- but there was something absolute about my farewell to Rexburg.

Lots of things come into your life for a reason, and the events leading to me moving to America and living there for the amount of time that I did, were definitely planned. I have absolutely no doubt that everything that happened and all the experiences I had, were meant to be.

I wrote thank you cards to all 38 professors that I had over the course of my time at BYU-I. It was awesome to be able to think about each of those men and women and all that they had done for me over the years.

But as I finished my finals, I really had to take the time to say goodbye to a few things:

The David O McKay Library.

I got a job here just before my second semester started, and after being under the direction of Robyn Holderman (besides my mother[s] one of the greatest women to walk the earth), I can say with my whole heart that I will NEVER have an employer who cares more about her employees and the welfare of their souls, than this woman. I was a wreck. Literally crying my eyes out when I said goodbye to her, because of all that she has taught me over the past few years. What an inspiration, and a woman I will never forget.

My co-workers put together this book for me. AS IF I needed more of a reason to cry.

The Taco Bus Restaurant.

Ok, say what you will, but noone does Mexican food like this place. Affordable and freaking good. From the first bite of your delectable Macho Burrito to the last, you are guaranteed to "enyoy" it. 

Sammy's.

Many a Friday night of my freshman year were spent here. Trying to find cute boys. Listening to the hipsteriest music there ever was, and just feeling like we'd MADE it as real life college students ya know? Their pie shakes were good, and we went there for one last shake as well as to leave our mark. Literally.

The hashtagleanda is killing me. I love my friends.



My Friends.
Obviously the hardest of the goodbyes, but I was able to spend some quality time with the people that have truly changed my life, that I will LITERALLY be friends with forever.

 We had a swanky dinner Chez Pickering, and it was so good to be with all of these awesome people.

The only reason I will EVER be in Montana is because of these people. Living with Kirby and Candace was one of the best semesters of my life, and I CANNOT wait to virtually meet Baby Wells. What amazing friends.

bye.

                  

More thoughts and pictures from the big day coming soon!

perspective.

I was actually going to write this post about how sad I feel about my upcoming graduation. I had planned on complaining relentlessly about everything that I have to do and how busy/stressed I am. 

Then someone posted this on facebook.

Truth is, I am blessed to be getting a Bachelors' degree and to have the opportunity to further my life. 

It's all about perspective.

g r a d s

Erin and I had a joint graduation party on Friday to commemorate our upcoming graduation!! 

It was so good to see good friends and say goodbye. Huge thanks to everyone that came and partied with us!

We're friends. They'll tell you otherwise, but it's true.

The "Whitney" lean

Red cups and Martinelli's. Freshman dreams coming true

Krysta and I have the same good side.

We therefore have to take the same picture twice.

chinwag.

This week I hosted my third and final semesterly British party :(

As per usual the Royal Wedding was playing and we had a lengthy discussion about the beauty and grace of David Beckham.

Well... the boys did.

And there were smokeys.

      

...mostly Krysta and I posed in front of the make-shift union jack photobooth