Graduation Must-Haves

Brianna G.

April 7, 2011 - 4:45 PM

While I have felt graduation growing closer all year, today its reality was placed right in front of me as I picked up my cap and gown from the Grad Fair. I nearly forgot about the fair until my roommates asked me if I wanted to go with them over to the UO Bookstore to check out the graduation regalia. Unfortunately, I had to go to class, so I had to brave the fair alone.

The process was much shorter than I initially expected; those running the Grad Fair moved pretty quickly as us soon-to-be graduates moved through the lines orderly. My first stop was to pick up the correct size of gown, which they measured by height. I had heard rumors that the gowns were made of completely compostable fabric, which I found to be true as I was talking to a representative. According to the tag on the gown, the fabric is made from wood that came from a managed forest and can decompose in less than a year, with the proper environment. One more reason to love the U of O! Although I am hoping it lasts long enough to let my younger sister use the gown in her graduation.

The next station involved tassel color. Since I am double majoring, I snagged two tassels. I have to say, one of the benefits of adding on psychology as a major gave me a much prettier tassel color, gold. My human physiology tassel is ‘sage green,' meaning it's kind of puke colored. It's strange to see the whole combination of cap, gown, and tassels together, and to realize that this simple and traditional outfit represents so much!

Additionally on the graduation front, I actually applied to graduate this week. While I am still able to walk in spring, I will actually be completely done with all aspects of my degree during the summer session. I still need one more Spanish class to fulfill the minor requirements, and potentially one more psychology class for my major depending on how my research credits pan out. While I could have fit in the classes, it would have meant adding on a lot in addition to my already busy schedule, so I decided summer would do just fine. I am on the lease for house through most of the summer, and want to continue the majority of my extra-curricular activities (work, research lab, peer advising, volunteer etc) as well. I'm really looking forward to one last summer in Eugene, and many of my friends will be here as well before we all split off in different directions.

Before we do all leave each other, my wonderful friends do have one more big event planned. Throughout this entire year, we have discussed our desire to throw our own ‘graduation,' complete with a yearbook. This week, we have been expanding on our plans to have our McAlister Graduation, named after the dorm that most of us met in. Our friendships have been going strong for nearly four years now, and we want to celebrate it with all of our families. We have plans to have a big barbeque in the back yard of the ‘Friendly House' ladies (who coincidently live on Friendly street), complete with walking across their back porch, receiving our ‘diplomas,' a slideshow, and yearbook signing. We've started creating superlatives for each of us, digging up baby pictures, and some other memorable images. My creative side can't wait to get started on the rest of the yearbook!

While all of the graduation planning is certainly exciting, I have to say I'm pretty nervous! I'm not entirely sure what graduation will bring me, and I'm incredibly sad to know that most of us will be parting ways. It's been such a fast four years! Thankfully, I still have seven weeks of spring term to live it up.