It’s over. I have officially graduated from South Georgia College. I have my first college diploma. Yee Haw. Or something like that.

The last week of school was crazy. Never take six classes – when you take six classes, that means you have six finals. Six finals. Six tests. Six grades. Six different subjects to study for. Not fun.

Luckily (I think) I didn’t have any finals Monday or Tuesday, so Sunday night was sort of relaxing for me. It was the clam before the storm. Monday was mundane, actually I don’t remember what happened Monday afternoon, but that doesn’t matter, the real action happened Monday night. I wanted to have a dinner with everyone I had met in Douglas before I left, so I figured Monday night would be the best. I sent an e-mail out over the weekend inviting a lot of people to come out. Jake, Samantha B., Edgar, Pepjin, Josh C., Jeff S., Catie, and Kyle. We ate at the place where people eat when something big happens, or if you have extra cash to spend—Ruby Tuesday’s. Good times were had. Jake made hilarious remarks about a woman on the local Douglas Channel who sings about a train with Jesus coming to get you and me. Some of us went to the volleyball pit (is that the right word, pit?) to reclaim the glory of volleyball from the GSA field day. To our dismay, the (hot) soccer players were out there playing and grunting like real men do. We pulled over to Side Street and played dodge ball. Make with what ya got.

Ok, no one wants to hear about my entire week, I don’t even want to hear about it. It was fun, stressful, and finger lickin’ exhausting. Oh, but Dr. Fisher and Dr. Seward did take me out to eat Thursday afternoon after my Butler final. We went to Bobby’s and talked about everything SGC and the future while I stuffed a double cheese burger down my throat (and I wonder why I have gained so much weight). Let’s fast forward to Thursday night. So I had my last final, which was Social Problems, Thursday night. Afterwards Jake, Laura, and Kyle helped me clean out my office. It was sad cleaning out all the memories and making way for the new peeps. After that, they went with me to my dorm room to help me pack my crap. We got a lot done in the couple of hours they were there, but by midnight they had to leave because of dorm rules. So it was me and my crap. I was packing, doing laundry, and trying to finish my Spanish 3 independent study stuff. Well, I never got that stuff done because by 4am I called it quits. I hadn’t slept in two days and I knew I had to drive back to Atlanta later that day, plus graduation was in a few hours so I needed some shut eye. I set my alarm for 7am, expecting to get up, finish packing, and then get ready for graduation. We had to be there at 9am, and the ceremony was supposed to start at 10am.

Next thing I know, I hear banging at my door. I throw on something to cover up my exhausted body and hurriedly open my dorm room door. Lee S. and Jake are standing there with terrified looks on their faces. Jake’s jaw is almost on the ground, but he is covering it up with what looks to be a program of some sort. Shit. Things start to connect in my mind. I turn around and look at my clock: 11:10am. First word that comes to my mind, “Shit.” It all hits me at one time: I have slept through my gradation of South Georgia College. I put on shoes as Jake and Lee explain to me how everyone is looking for me and wondering what I have been. I don’t really remember what was going through my head at this point, just poor embarrassment. We head over to Peterson Hall so I can find my family, but before we get over there, Public Safety stops us halfway on their golf cart, which has my mother sitting there looking worried. She sees me, jumps off, and gives me this huge bear hug. Tears start to flow, words are mumbled, threats are given—it’s over. I go and greet my Grandmother who thinks I have died or something and let her know that I am okay. I head back to my room to put on my cap and gown so I can at least wear it at the graduation reception. By the time I got over the Union, EVERYONE had heard about what happened. (The joys of South Georgia). Dr. Jackson, President of SGC, even put back on his robes so I could take pictures with him. The situation ended up not being so bad. The next disaster came when my family tried packing all my stuff—we had to come back the next day and get the rest of it.

Things I learned from that whole experience:
-I can’t do everything.
-I am human.
-My body needs rest.
-Some things just need to happen the next day.
-Miguel actually missed something. Wow.

So now I have my Associates of Arts Degree in Journalism from South Georgia College. What are my plans for next fall? Well, since UGA has not gotten back with me while everyone else has heard, I have decided to go to Georgia Southern University. I will be an Eagle next year. Get some!

Okay, well I’ve been trying to figure out what to write about my friend Jake. Jake Jewell has been like a brother to me while at South Georgia College. From the first time we met in a journalism meeting to our very last night pulling an all niter studying for Butler’s test, Jake has been there. I’ve never had a friend who would stick by my side no matter what. If I said, “Jake, let’s drive down to Florida to get some pictures of the beach,” he would be there. The late nights and early mornings I spent working on the newspaper, Jake was usually there keeping me awake and alert. A lot of the success of the newspaper came from Mr. Jewell. When ever I needed help with layout, or something looked crazy, he came in with his sharp eye and helped a brotha out. We explored the inner most thoughts and crevices of our brains to figure out what makes us tick. For all of our similarities, we have many differences. And those differences make him a great person. I have never met someone who was so insightful and funny. This boy can read a person like no one else. Be careful what you say around Mr. Jewell because it has been logged, and we have probably talked and laughed about it. Gosh, sometimes I wish I could bottle up this man’s comedic timing; Jake has the ability to make ANYONE laugh in ANY situation. Jake, you are going places, and you are a wonderful person. Your mother is crazy and should be put in the funny farm; please don’t listen to what she says. You will do great things; just remember to send me a check when you start raking in the big bucks!

Well I’m back in Atl and just relaxing. I haven’t started working, I’m starting next week. I’m taking a break. Saturday night Pepjin was in Atlanta from dropping off his sister at the airport so we met up for dinner. We went to Joe’s on Juniper. We sat there and talked forever, and then we headed to Brandon’s to say hi. Pepjin stayed at house – I’m sure he probably regrets that because he met half my family Sunday morning. Since it was Mother’s day, my Grandmother received visitors and phone calls all that morning, so that must have been interesting to him.

Alright, I hate to be sudden and not end in some good way, but my fingers hurt and I’m tired. SOOOO, I’m headed to bed.

Good day!