Our Colonel Graduates! + One

Our kids make us proud. They are dedicated, kind, and have accomplished so much in a short amount of time.

I am especially proud of Isaac.  I’ve said it before, but he has truly done the college thing on his own—and now he’s finishing a year early.  And while that is something to celebrate, he's also missing out on another year of fun.  I'll never regret encouraging him to challenge himself in high school - it opens doors, gets you scholarships and saves a LOT of money, but it also cuts your college years short.  But here’s the thing I’ve always known - Isaac is meant for something bigger.  Both he and Karson are pursuing paths that require more education, which means their time in school isn't shorter, just different.  

Because each of our children attend different schools and are on different paths, graduation looks different too. Karson was a nursing graduate at UofL, which meant she had a pinning ceremony in addition to the university’s formal graduation.  Plus, since it was in winter term, I think it was structured different than the spring.  Tickets weren't required. Our extended family attended the pinning but did not attend the main ceremony.  

At EKU, all graduations take place on the same day but are split into different ceremonies based on college. Isaac's graduation consisted of the College of Business and College of Criminal Justice, and his ceremony was the last one of the day. It's also a ticketed event which is (initially) limited for graduates. I didn’t realize you needed to reserve them as soon as the portal opened. I did manage to get the six promised tickets, but I knew I would need a couple more. Additional tickets were released later in April, and I was ready, like someone waiting for concert tickets to go on sale, to grab extra seats. I’m really glad I did, because they went fast. Who knew so many people wanted to come to graduation?

Having a daughter graduate from college feels different, at least from what I’ve seen looking through Instagram. It’s filled with young women in caps and gowns, posing all over campus. You don’t see that as much with guys.  I like to send out graduation announcements to close family and friends. For Karson, it was easy, she already had great photos thanks to her cousin Elizabeth. For Isaac, I wasn't about to ask him to arrange a photo shoot for a card. I opted for the Josten's formal cards, not really my style but something to commemorate the day.

  

Our group of 10 headed to Richmond today!  I ordered him a cookie cake which always feels appropriate when celebrating.  The plan was to gather at Jackson's Restaurant which is close to his place.  I wanted to get there a little earlier and make sure his gown and stoles were steamed and ready to go.  Plus I had some cards, pants, and other things to deliver to him.  Even though we left early, it still feels like it takes forever to get to Richmond.  We rolled up to his place about 30 minutes before we were supposed to meet everyone at the restaurant.

A Wild Turkey toast was made - we enjoyed hanging out with Isaac's friends Luke and Reed.

 

Jackon's is a local resturant with your basic hometown cooking.  We all enjoyed the food!  Isaac's friend Luke (above in the Wake Forest sweatshirt) has his photo on the wall for finishing the Big Hoss Burger Challenge which means you eat two half-pound patties with bacon, city ham, pepperoni, American, Swiss, and beer cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, and all the condiments which include BBQ sauce, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and an onion ring. It’s served with a pile of fries and a drink. If you finish the entire meal in 20 minutes - it’s free plus you’ll get a Jacksons' t-shirt and your picture on the wall.  Yep, that pretty much sums up Isaac's best friend!  They share a love for movies, wild stories, and good times!  Isaac plans to go to Wake Forest next weekend to see him graduate from his Master's program.

No surprise that Matt bonded with him too!

The crew takes over Jackson's!  I'd told Isaac that I wanted to eat somewhere local similar to what we did for Karson in Louisville.  He told me about this place and that is was close to his house.  It was fantastic, and the people who work here could not have been sweeter or more accommodating.

  I wanted to snag some photos before dropping him off at the ceremony.  Thankful he was cooperative.  I know this isn't a "guy" thing but this mama wanted some pictures.

We started out in front of Telford Hall where it all began.  

 

 

The day was windy, and this guy can be so silly!

 

I had been stalking some photo ideas on facebook from EKU to grab some shots I liked.

Isaac spent a lot of time in Case Dining Hall - so much so that he became best friends with the Chick Fil A manager, Rhonda.  He was hopeful she would be on campus Friday and popped in to see her.

This is one reason why my son is so special - he makes a big impact on people. Rhonda was overcome with emotion, tearing up a little and told me what a wonderful job we did raising him and that he was the sweetest young man she had ever met.  She told him how much she would miss him!

 

Trying to recreate the Beatles Abbey Road Picture - he's a character!

Our final stop before the big ceremony was the business campus. I knew we’d be cutting it close to the time we needed to drop him off, but I’m so thankful we were able to capture so many pictures along the way!

 

Got him to the coliseum, went and collected the rest of the family and made our way to Baptist Health Arena!

 

 

Isaac graduated Magma Cum Laude and did it in THREE YEARS earning his Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance.  His program is one of the strongest ones in this industry and the only one of its kind in Kentucky.  Because of his internship with Charles M. Moore, he has already received two licenses in Property and Casualty.

One thing that Dr. McFaddin, President of EKU, said in his commencement speech was that Isaac and his class would join the 38% of students who receive their bachelors degree.  I think this is what makes Isaac's degree even more meaninful.  While many students start this journey, only a fraction of them finish.  He stayed committed and crossed the stage!

We grabbed a few more family pictures after the ceremony before the grandparents headed home!  We took Isaac to Zaxby's for dinner before dropping him back off at his place!

 

Isaac and his professor bestie Dr. Easterling!

Isaac and his buddy Jacob who was honestly the reason Isaac chose EKU in the first place.  Jacob graduated from South early and started in EKU's Aviation program.  Isaac stayed with him some during his first year and fell in love with the campus!

While I wish he'd chosen to move back home this weekend, he has decided to stay in Richmond through the end of his lease which is mid-June.  

I can’t forget to mention that not only did Isaac graduate this spring, but Matt technically did too (not officially). He finished his last class at WKU in April getting his superintendent certification which he began last summer. I honestly don’t know how he manages to juggle it all.  I am proud of my ambitious family. They work hard and stay committed to their goals, always pushing themselves to do more and be better. It’s inspiring.