What a fun day! Almost my whole family from FSJ came down for it!

After my graduation we had a four-course dinner on my patio. It was catered by this company, a local catering company that uses only food from within a 100-mile radius OR that’s fair-trade and organic. How cool is that?!

We had an amazing dinner! And I ate the Salmon since it’s local salmon from a place just outside of Kamloops

And we had lots of wine and champagne! I have a bit of a headache this morning.

Of course, I got spoiled:

New running sunglasses with polarized lens from Eric. A black pearl necklace from my aunt and family. Some money and awesome cards from my mom, dad and grandma

It was a fabulous day!

I’m off to spend the day with my family – they are heading back to FSJ tomorrow and taking Eric with them!!! I’m so sad. We’ll be apart for an indefinite amount of time now as we both start pursuing our careers in separate cities. However, it’s in the works for him to move back down here permanently in September 2011 to go to school! And I’m sure I’ll see him in a few weeks or a month. Now that it’s summer driving home is much more manageable than in the winter!

Have a fabulous day and weekend! Thanks for keeping me going over the last eight months when the going got tough. XO

Obviously (we would hope) I’ve learned a lot over the past four years. I’ve learned how to write and cite a 5,000 word research paper. I’ve learned how to study for four exams at once. I’ve learned how to stay awake through a three-hour night class. I’ve learned CP style, kind of. I’ve learned how to write a news story and how to write a press release. I’ve learned that you can bullshit your way through essay questions but you can’t bullshit your way through multiple choice.

I’ve also learned a lot of non-school related things. In the last four years I’ve learned:

• How to cook. Kind of.
• About proper portion sizes and what it means to eat healthy (it does not mean eating one salad per day as I once thought).
• I’ve learned that getting what you want in life takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of good luck.
• I’ve learned to always, always, ALWAYS take a CC or debit card to the bar or you might use up all your cash and end up walking home.
• I’ve learned the importance of having fun.
• I’ve learned that you should never start doing shots of peach shnapps at 7:00 PM. It won’t turn out well.
• I’ve learned to LOVE wine.
• I’ve learned the art of still being productive while hungover, kind of.
• I’ve learned the importance of balancing having fun with getting things done.
• I’ve learned the importance of family by living away from home for awhile.
• I’ve learned how to budget and save money.
• I’ve learned that what they say about high school is true: Things that happen there don’t matter in the long run, and college is way, way, WAY better.
• I’ve learned that long-distance relationships can not only work, but they can make your relationship stronger.
• I’ve met some amazing people.
• I’ve learned to love myself, first.

But, the number one lesson I think I have learned in the last four years about university and college in general.

It’s not so much about what you learn, it’s about the experience.

While I did learn a lot of school and non-school things, I also had some of the most amazing experiences of my life. Some of the absolute most fun, best times of my whole life have taken place over the last four years. And, going to college has taught me so much about the world in general that I was naive to in high school.

What kinds of school AND non-school related things did you learn in college?

PS: I’m writing my last final exam EVER today! Eiiiii!

I am doing a series flashing back to each year of college as I am wrapping up my undergraduate degree next week! Read about my first year of college, second year of college and third year of college to catch up!

Fun fact: We don’t call it Freshmen, Junior, Sophomore and Senior year in Canada!! (I don’t even know if that is the right order! LOL)

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Considering I finished up my last week of classes of my undergraduate degree yesterday, it seemed only fitting that I do the wrap-up of my fourth year of college today.

What a whirlwind it’s been, and you guys have been with me every step of the way.

I don’t think it’s a huge secret that I haven’t exactly been happy with my final year of school. I’ve been dealing with some serious cases of Senioritis and towards the end, I literally would stop caring and started hating my life on days that I had to go to school. I think this was partially due to the program I’m enrolled in and the fact that I’m taking a different career path then originally intended and I also think it was due to the fact that I went to college straight out of high school.

I’ve been going to school full-time for 17 years. I’m ready for a break.

Anyways, my fourth year of college hasn’t been all bad, despite my grumbling posts.

It started with a bang on my 21st birthday, where I got far too drunk for my own good.

The first two months of my final semester I was balancing two part-time jobs, a full course load and finishing up the training for my third half-marathon, which I ran in October.

I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends, which was refreshing and fun as always.

Despite all of my complaining about school over the last few weeks, our Journalism end-of-the-year party on Wednesday was a very bittersweet event for me as it reminded me of the one thing I will miss the most about University.

The people I have met.

This is pretty much the entire group of people that I have gone to school with for the last two years:

On Monday I have my last final exam and on Thursday I hand in one more paper and then I am done.

While I am SO ready for the next step/phase in my life, it’s also bittersweet that this part of my life is coming to a close. I know I will miss it.

Tell me about your final year of college? Did you experience Senioritis like I did? Did you find it bittersweet when it all ended? What do you miss the most? I am 100% sure it will be the people!