My Graduation Announcement

Sent April 13th, 2010

Hi Family!

I am pleased to announce that I am graduating from George Washington University with a Bachelor's in Psychology this May!
My commencement ceremony will take place on the National Mall, underneath the Washington Monument on May 16th. This year, Michelle Obama will be speaking at graduation! Everyone is invited, it would be a great chance to enjoy the capitol, the spring weather, and to bump shoulders with Mrs. Obama (or maybe just with her secret service men). Please let me know if you'll be in the area and can come by! I apologize for the late notice, until recently, I wasn't EXACTLY sure that this would be my last semester at GWU...

I've been at GWU since Fall of 2005. I came in as an early high school graduate, at the tender age of 17. I guess college life proved to be a little overwhelming for me, because the next year, I took the fall semester off and came back to Texas to work as a toddler teacher full-time. I came back to GWU in the spring and rejoined the GW Cheer Team for the athletic scholarship. For the past two years, I have been babysitting or teaching when I'm not in school. That experience has shaped my career path I hope to take... working with children. I have entered my future play and movement studio in two different business plans, and although I did not place, that has been my proudest accomplishment.

Last year, I got Mokey, my lab/great dane mix. I've had a lot of fun training her. It has been very rewarding having her companionship, although, the responsibility has been a little too much. Thankfully, Tata was able to help me out earlier this year. This year, Mokey and I have been training together for our 10K in two weeks! We run 4 to 6 miles every other day, without her, I doubt I'd be in such great shape :) Lizette will be joining me for the 10K run!

My plans for after graduation?? I will be going to Texas for a week right after graduation with one of my girl friends from school. We plan on hanging out with Jonathan, floating the river, visiting Austin, and enjoying the sun. I'll come back to DC and pack up my belongings (and Mokey) and stay in northern New Jersey with my current roommate's family. In June, I'm going to Barcelona, Spain for two weeks!!! A friend from home will be studying abroad there for a month, and he's invited me to visit. I just got my passport and I've been saving, so I'm VERY excited for this chance. This will be my first time crossing the ocean- anyone have any advice or know of must-see places in the area? I think I'm going to go to Paris for a weekend too!

The job search continues... I've been applying to jobs in DC, NY, and TX, and still have yet to hear back. Luckily, I have bought myself some time until the end of June. I think I may be a residential camp counselor until the end of the summer, unless something better arises.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my excitement with all of you! If you can swing by DC for the middle of May, I would be happy to see you! Feel free to email me, I'd love to hear how every one is doing. Good luck with your future travels (I hear Colombia is the go-to destination right now ;)) and enjoy the return of spring!

Love,
Raquel