Graduation: Class of 2012, You are Superman!

GOODBYE WASHU. It's been a surreal journey of 4 years, full of the highest highs and some pretty damn lows. But now we're at the end looking back with tears in our eyes and toothy smiles playing at our lips and I wouldn't change a thing. There are a few moments I will remember beyond the sweat pouring down our faces on the 85 degree plus Quad, the fake money being tossed by the business school kids (ever so clever), and all 900 of us Artsci kids having our names read out and walking across the stage. Mike Peters, the creator of comic Mother Goose and Grimm was our Commencement speaker and former graduate. Honestly, no one was very excited but when he opened his mouth and his dorky anecdotes poured out, we were in love. He told us, "Class of 2012, you are Superman!" and ripped off his graduation robe to display the vivid blue and red spandex, sweated-on Superman suit he had been hiding beneath all along. What a character.

Lien 1, I met you 4 years ago when I had pigtails in my hair and a lot of big plans and lofty expectations that were soon to be discarded for something much better. True and lasting friendship, of a kind I haven't experience before as the kid who moved too much in her short lifetime. You guys are my inspiration, my family away from home, my best friends. You believed in me when I could not and propped me up when I fell down again and again and look - WE MADE IT. Chatting late into the night in our dorms about absolutely nothing and everything, watching each other grow into "real people," reluctantly saying goodbye as our journeys spread us out across the country like nutella over bread (yes, another one of our great discoveries) ... I will not forget all the reasons that I couldn't stop bawling at Three Kings and while eating a tub of Rocky Road ice cream together. To you and all my other college friends - pleasepleaseplease keep in touch! I already miss you dearly and it's been less than a week.

I could go on and on, but never finish. For now, it's to this wonderful 2.5 months before med school (Where? The big reveal is coming up!) to relax in San Diego, learn how to surf, read to my heart's content, and much more. C'est la vie and we deserve it. (There are a million more photos that JJ's parents took but I figure I'd start off with some snapshots. Post those later!)

Photo credits: Lindsey Z, WashU, Cedric X, Grace F

Readers - what were your favourite moments from graduation?