Monday, May 31, 2010

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

9 semesters @ GWU

1st Year: 17 years old. Learning the responsibility of personal freedom. Discovering cheap vodka. GW Cheer Team and Men's Basketball. Babysitting and dog walking. Long boarding. Summer living in sketch neighborhood and hour plus long commutes to nanny.



My first spring break of college was spent on campus practicing for Nationals. Between practices I walked back to my empty dorm, but I wasn't allowed in because Secret Service closed off the block so President George W. Bush could lecture in the adjacent classroom building. I sat outside and watched the snipers move around on the rooftops.

2nd Year: Semester in College Station, TX. 40hour work week taking care of 10 one year olds. Bee the beagle. Semester back at GW. Rooming with a 30-something year old, sorority president, and Jory. Worst summer in College Station. Great summer in San Marcos. First tattoo. July 4th crash. Reconnecting with SMHS friends.



On July 4th, I was wandering around San Marcos with Paul and Chamberlain, looking for hills to bomb down. After a few successful runs we decided to head to the steepest hill in town. I went first and flew down the hill and smashed into the black pavement. The ER verdict was nothing more than road rash, some bruises, stiff knee, and a black eye from my head bump. I haven't ridden down a hill since. "You won't always be invincible."- Nana

3rd Year: GW Cheer Team. Torn ACL/Meniscus = 15lb weight gain. Discovering introspection. Realizing I'm a bad waitress. Visits to Ojai. ACL surgery and shock of no health insurance. Summer babysitting in DC.




This was probably my worst year at GW. What did I learn from this? Don't be friends with people you don't like and have friends from home visit.

4th Year: Living with my best friends. More tattoos. Talking about God and human existence. Falling in love. Trying to be a better person. Obama riot on Inauguration night. Finding Mokey. Rediscovering DC by bicycle. Summer babysitting in DC. Reconnecting with little sister.



This year, we won the campus-wide contest: Most Colorful Room! That pretty much sums up my whole year.

5th year: Living with more of my best friends. Teachings of Yoga. Moving off-campus and re-prioritizing. Running 15 miles a week. More tattoos. Applying to jobs.



Graduation: May 16,2009 on the National Mall. Michelle Obama as the commencement speaker.