Graduation

Finally!!!

A bit of beck-history:

I graduated from High School in 2004, decided to move up to Salt Lake and attend the University of Utah -Premed- then...decided that the roll of "doctor" wasn't really one I wanted.

After 18yrs of wanting to be one thing, never having a "Plan B," and all the sudden "plan-less," I was really Really REALLY unsure of what the heck I was going to do.

A lot of my friends and family were really disappointed that I "gave up" on the doctor thing so quickly, adding to the stress of having zero direction or path...and then, my saving grace:

My sister had just begun working at a dental office, and decided I was going to work there too (you'd have to know her in order to truly accept that statement as fact), but as a hygiene assistant.

I moved back down to 'Vegas, began working there f.t. and taking general ed classes f.t. at UNLV, CSN and NSC (working full time makes it very difficult to schedule classes, especially the science/lab classes, hence attending all the different schools).

A couple of months into working as a hygiene assistant, I decided hygiene was where I belonged. I worked with some amazing hygienists/friends (shout out Kim L and Shar C) who helped me orchestrate my classes in a manner that allowed me to finish asap. After two years of f.t. school, completing prerequisites, I applied and was accepted into hygiene school (fall 2007).

Fast forward three hellish semesters of the hygiene program, and I was in my 4th (and last) semester of the A.S. hygiene program at CSN. The school offers an opportunity to the 4th semester students to begin taking bachelor's courses (on top of their associate load), in order to speed up that degree process. I was one of the masochists to participate in this, and three not-so-bad, but not-so-great semesters later...

I graduated :)

I'm really really happy with hygiene. I love what I do...sometimes not the patients...or the doctors...but the nature of the work is perfect...for me :)

Tah-Dahhh!!!

I was able to graduate with a couple of girls I met while in the program, who have become some of my best friends!

(too corny? k. I'll move on...)

I didn't think the programs were all that shabby!

Nice job CSN!

I know, I know, my hat is tipping backwards...

I didn't want to shmush my bangs, ok? :P

Spy Beck!

(Seriza Brinkerhoff was just to my left, and LeAnna Burlison was on the left of her)

Afterwards, my family took me to a really really really great dinner (at Ventano's) where we indulged in a bit of a post-grad-photo op:

My much prettier sisters!

2/4 of my brothers

(that fraction is for Celeste and Clayt :)

Celeste and Spence (<-who is now 5'9" :O!!)

The Parental Units

(sad this one was so dark,

but my camera started acting up :\...)

The GIFTS:

Seeing as how this is my 3rd graduation in 6 years, I HONESTLY did NOT expect anything. How many times can a kid graduate? Geesh! But, MUCH to my surprise, I was showered with some wonderful congratulatory gifts:

This work of art came (in addition to a beautiful black on black wallet) courtesy of one eldest sistah..

All of this from my parents!!

I finally got my passport!! I really really really want to do some traveling (to my mom's excitement and dad's dismay), so they supplied me with some beautiful luggage, luggage locks (so practical), and THE Travel Book :)

I also got a really cute tote (semi-pictured in the previous photo, with the lime green tissue paper peeking out from the top) that says "Queen of Dental Hygiene," a clock (I forget what it says, but it's something about hygiene) and some hygiene-stationary from my boss :)

And I'm not normally big on "willow" items (weird... faceless... haunting...), but I really liked this one from my Grandma Davis. It's the "Love of Learning" figurine, and a Sheri Dew book!

I wasn't going to get my bachelors...

but I'm SO glad I did...

I wasn't going to walk in graduation...

but I'm SOO glad I did...

I wasn't going to get my masters...

but.... :)