This past weekend was my official, final and end of school graduation. I finished my classes a few months ago, received my degree via postal carrier two weeks ago, but on Saturday I actually dressed up in a cap and gown and crossed that official stage.

I’m so glad I did it.

I owe a few people for pushing me to do it. My wife of course, who always said it was up to me, but she felt it was something I might regret not doing. Also a friend of ours named Tammy…she came to my graduation party we had a month or so ago, and being a fellow University of Phoenix alumni, she told me I NEEDED to do it.

Thanks guys…because it was so very worth it.

Sure, it was a long day. Poor Lyla had to deal with her parents being gone from 8am until almost 6pm because of another commitment we had in the afternoon. The ceremony started at 10am, lasted until 12:20 or so and then took us almost 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot to the family lunch we were having.

The ceremony itself was long too. 1100 names had to be read and it felt like it took forever.

Except when it was closing in on the BSIT graduates (ME!) and I started getting nervous. Not too nervous, just some excited energy. I couldn’t believe I was about to walk across the stage, shake some guy’s hand and then wave to my family in the stands.

The highlight of it for me was the band playing bagpipes that led us out after it was over. I love bagpipes and they almost always make me tear up.

I never could have believed I’d have a Bachelor’s degree. After attending Mesa Community College for a bit after high school, I stopped going around 1996-7. And so here I am, 13 years later…and it’s in a place I never thought I’d be.

I feel very proud right now. My life is amazing and God has truly blessed me. He’s blessed my marriage of 11+ years now to the most amazing woman. He’s blessed us with Lyla Grace, the cutest little girl on the planet. My job is going great. We have everything we want. And now yet another blessing.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with it…although it may help me with my salary. I think it will be a good thing to have in case I end up needing to look for work at some point, but right now, I don’t see myself changing much.

The only thing that’s changed is that little place inside me that used to feel somewhat ashamed or regretful that I never graduated from college.

That place is gone now. Woo!

Now here are a few pictures Jina took right after graduation outside the stadium. Uncle Dennis found me and handed me Lyla, whom I was so happy to see, and then my Aunt Marilyn posed for a picture with us as well.