That's right, Stacey now has a bachelor. Bachelor's degree that is. It's one of those things that I have to remind myself that it's a big deal. Funny, heh? I think with the mind set that I still have school left since I have to get a master's, it's not like I'm "finished" or can really even use my degree yet. Or maybe since it seemed to have gone by so fast, it was like "wait what? That's here already?" Or probably most of all, I compare it kind of like this to high school: the focus wasn't to pass my classes in order to graduate, my focus had to be on getting a high gpa in order to go to college (grad school). So it was always like, yeah I'll graduate- but will I get into BYU's small and extremely competitive program? But I think after reminding myself, it was like-hey yeah! I'm a college graduate!!!
Finals ended on the Thursday of graduation, April 19th, so I knew I needed to finish them on Wednesday. The first and only time I took all my finals before the last day! I picked up my cap and gown on Wednesday and had it with me in the bag as I took my last final as an undergraduate (I made sure to save a religion test for last so I could definitely end with a congratulations from a testing center screen, one final time). In that moment, it felt very real!
Lucky for me, my wonderful roommate Tiare was graduating this year as well! The first day of graduation was the big commencement at the Marriott Center. The speaker was Dallin H. Oaks, which according to the Relative Finder app on Facebook is my fourth cousin once removed. The closest of any of the "famous people" it has listed on there. Perfect! They had huge lines of the different colleges that you line up with. I decided to just march with Tiare, her brother Shane, and sister-in-law Sam (who is one of my old roommates!)
They have all the doctorate degrees, then masters, then bachelor degree recipients stand up in groups and then verbally confer upon us our respective degrees. Apparently it was almost 6000. We give out a whoop and a holler. Dallin H Oaks gave a great talk, and the whole thing only lasted about an hour, much shorter than what anyone was expecting. Then was the crazy fun of trying to find family afterwards. My mom and my sister Heather came. The rest of my siblings came the next day to the convocation. 
President Samuelson. Cecil! Dallin H. Oaks
I of course had to meet up with Andrea Graf to get a picture (so crazy to say that without her last name being Lamb now!) My beloved old roommate, co-worker, classmate, etc. One of the best friends you could ever have!
Next morning, I had to wake up bright and early because my convocation was at 8 in the a.m. And I had to be there at 7! I didn't wake up before 7 all school year I'm pretty sure. My college is the College of Education (Communication Disorders, elementary education, and special education) and our ceremony was in the Smith Fieldhouse.
The anatomy of receiving a diploma:
Thanks to my wonderful family who came!!! Here I am with my four siblings, my mom, and my brother-in-law Kordel!!
I know that my dad was there in spirit! And I know he's proud of me. His fifth college graduate!
Travis, Allison, Mark, and Heather.
Above: 2 of my favorite professors-they wrote two of my recommendation letters. Next is my wonderful friend Emily! So happy I got to sit next to her in our major classes all semester! And my brother Mark. 
Well BYU, I sure love you- I'll always be true and I'll always root blue! It's been a great four years. And you're not getting rid of me just yet! Thanks for the friends made, the lessons and knowledge learned, [Jimmer], and the countless memories. 
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