It's on the Map!

Classy Jojo and I would go to football games senior year at Hampton and yell out today's date in call and response form, "MAY 9TH! (MAY 9TH!) IT'S ON THE MAP! (IT'S ON THE MAP!)" The date of our graduation. Senior year we went to games mostly so we could Rock the Blue and White! "STOP AND LET THE SENIORS DO IT!!" You wait 3 years just so you can yell that at games and then you go CRAZY!!! Hahahahaha. It's also fun to "STOP AND LET ALUMNI DO IT!!!" Yeah my first homecoming I went NUTS!!! Go ahead go nuts go ape --. We had a blast senior year. Events including but not limited to: Smoke & Fire (black and red cabaret attire only), the White Out (all white cabaret attire only), Senior Ball and the Senior Sip & Bowl (hands down one of my favorites). We were ballin out all year! It was one giant party!! And let's not even mention the fact that I went to the beach every single day for my last week as an undergrad. There was a beach just 10 minutes from campus. Tell me that's not fantastic.

But this time 4 years ago I was blatantly ignoring attending my graduation. Hours earlier, at exactly midnight, we crossed O.gden Circle for the first time. (Hamptonians, did you know they added flags???) At Hampton, one of the first things you are told is not to cross O.gden Circle. We tell people on tours and the freshman class when they get there. While giving tours, I have specifically told people disrespectful of the tradition who walk across it not to even bother coming. It's that serious. I know at least 3 people who crossed O.gden Circle and did not graduate on time. Two of them never graduated from Hampton. My mother knows people from her class. Everyone who went to Hampton knows those people. Don't cross the circle. It is actually an ancient Indian burial ground as well.

The first time you can ever cross Ogden is at midnight on the day of your graduation. You have your financial and academic clearance card and you are graduating. At exactly midnight, you count down, then run screaming and yelling across Ogden with your drink in hand (lol, of course... and for the record I was drinking Select & coke). It's the most amazing feeling in the world!! I loved it!!!! It was even more special because I had years of build up with my mother being an alumna. And she was there, too. AWESOME!!! And after the running, you link arms on the steps to sing the alma mater (still one of my favorite songs). I like to sing it at the top of my lungs in the shower. The sorority hymn and "Lift Every Voice and Sing" are also frequently in the line up.

I can't believe it's been 4 years. We did it, Quintessence V! We have reunions every 5 years and Doll's 5 year is this year. I know you're celebrating so rock out girl! Amazing. Time flies when you're taking over the world!

For the record, I can't stand graduations. I understand what they represent but the ceremonies bore me to tears. My high school graduation I completely zoned out. I spent the whole time turned around talking to my friend Andrea. That's how my mom found me in the crowd of 200 or so. I don't remember anymore how many people were in my class. I was the one completely facing away from the stage the entire time. Hahahahahaha. At Hampton, I was surrounded by my friends from the journalism school so it was even worse. Except this time no one was paying attention. Our speaker was the university president. Booo. The class before us had Mr. Jello Pudding but I heard he was outrageously off topic. Didn't matter. I can't imagine who you could possibly invite to speak that I want to hear on that day. I just want you to hand me my sheet of paper and let me go on my way. The highlight was definitely the speech of our class dictator president. Lol. He was our prez all 4 years and we loved him. He's fun. And no, I wasn't drunk or hung over because I had been warned sitting in the hot sun on the football field in that condition was grounds for vomiting and that's never hot.

Next week my sister, the baby, graduates from UNCG with a degree in graphic design. Get it girl! (That's us at our sorority's regionals in 2005. She won a talent competition, hence the tiara.)

After this, I pray I will not be asked to attend any more graduation ceremonies until my children graduate. Since I don't have any, I should be in the clear for at least 20 years. Praise Jesus! (I guess I have to go to my nephew's high school graduation but I have about 10 years so I suppose I can do that after a decade-long hiatus.)