THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!

It's finally here. The last week of my undergrad at UCSB. Now only two finals stand in the way between me and freedom. Yes indeed it will feel so good to final get the 600 lbs gorilla off my back. I am certainly not done with school forever but this week will cap off a body of work that spans 9 years, nearly fifty different classes, and 4 schools. When I started my college journey it was a "pre-9/11" world. I remember taking my first math midterm during the first few hours of 9/11, I also remember not doing very. When I started college the first Shrek, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter movies were all hot new releases. Sugar ray and Destiny's Child were in the top twenty. Baywatch had it's last episode and "24" had its first. Gas: $1.70 a gallon and a UC tuition has doubled. I started at Delta College BEFORE the ipod was released! The Kings and Rams were title contenders! I drove a big brown towncar aptly named Jerome and I was dating ol' whats her name.My littlest sis Megan wasn't tall enough to ride anything at the fair. Yes many things have changed since then. 9 years later: new president (thank god), new car (newer), new lady, new town, and new fee increases for everything you can think of. One thing that never has changed is the love and support all of my family and friends has given me. Yes all of my guys in 2001 are still pretty much the same cast of characters in 2010. Mom and Dad haven't perfected life but they have perfected being loving, supportive, and encouraging irrespective of life's challenges. I still wear the same pair of white converse I laced up in 2001. On one hand I feel like I've grown a lot since the last time I donned a cap and gown, becoming more mature, stronger, more responsible. On the other hand I feel like I am very much the same person I was June 12th of 2001. I am not sure whether the idealistic motivated dreamer of 2001 or the weathered, determined, and battle-scared dreamer of 2010 had more to do with getting to where I am now. I do know that without Carolyn I probably wouldn't have made it. With her constant and unwavering support not only was I able to make it through I was able to do better than I ever had before. Be sure to thank her for being the one who got me to the finish line in the last half of this marathon when I was the most exhausted. In a way I feel like everyone around me believed in me more I believed in my self. That faith gave me confidence, strength, and courage to persevere even when I was a my lowest. I am now very proud to have earned my degree and justified all the hardships, late nights, and struggle. I am especially proud to have justified all the faith everyone has put in me. You were all right, I did it. Now wipe away the tears and put your game face on, finals are here and ITS THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! *please watch video for full comedic effect