Graduation

176. The number of friends I have graduating this year just from UW-Madison. I have friends all across the country finishing up their time as an undergrad and that number doesn't even include all the grad student graduates I know! This may sound like a boast about all the friends I have, but I love my friends and making new ones. It's sort of a hobby of mine.

Graduation is an exciting, emotional, and bittersweet time. I congratulate those friends walking across the stage this weekend and am extremely proud of all of them (especially those that I went to elementary, middle, and high school with). I had been describing the amount of friends graduating as depressing, when in reality I can't wait to see what my friends do after college. I'm really excited for it! I know some will make some awesome teachers, some engineering friends will probably change the world, and others will make a huge impact on their chosen professions no matter what or where they are. I am confident in saying this because of the great education we have gotten at this university.

The most CEOs leading fortune 500 companies out of any university in the country. More than Ivy league schools, which has the second most with nine I believe. A big part of this is the drive and ambition shared and gained by the students here at UW. We all force each other to be the best we can be. Whether it is done on purpose or inadvertently, it doesn't matter. If you go to this university, you learn how to balance your social life and academics, but also how to push yourself to do and learn things you never thought possible. It's incredible what the students here accomplish.

The biggest reason I'm writing about this is because I could have been graduating this weekend with them. I don't regret that I'm taking another year. In fact, I'm incredibly excited to take a "victory lap." Of the friends graduating who took five years, they all said that they didn't regret a second of it. And in my four years so far I have made some of the best and closest friends I could have ever imagined. To quote Kenneth from 30 Rock "You're my best friend, tied with everyone I've ever met!" This is similar to my feelings on the friends I've made at UW-Madison.

Everyone brings support, stories, humor, love, charisma, etc. They're some of the nicest and greatest people I've ever met and can go nowhere but up from here. I wanted to dedicate at least one post here to my graduating friends. You're all fantastic, smart, and fun to hang out with and talk to. As the commencement speaker just said "hang out with the right people." You are all those people for me and have made me who I am today.

So thanks for all the memories seniors! I can't wait to see what you do post-graduation and am very thankful to those of you sticking around Madison, either for your job or grad school. Though I am also extremely happy to have friends moving all over the country. Some to New York, many to Chicago, at least one to South Dakota, and a couple moving out west (California, Colorado, Arizona). It's been real kids. Remember, once a badger, always a badger and On, Wisconsin!