[flickr id=”8775452664″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”false” size=”original” group=”” align=”center”]

I am a MASTER!

I feel like it is impossible to capture the moments of Manifest and Graduation with words. This might seem silly for a writer to say, but I don’t know . . . I just feel speechless.[flickr id=”8775317260″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”false” size=”original” group=”” align=”center”]

It just seems fitting that Tatiana walked out onto that stage first to accept the first Nonfiction MFA for our program. The first ever, actually, and she was the first of all the graduates at the ceremony to walk out onto that stage. All of the messy pictures before we walked into the Chicago theater: Ryan laughing about something happening outside of the frame, Colleen hiding in the back of the group with her sunglasses on, Toni being the only person ready for the picture. I want to remember Sharon’s first-ever public reading at Manifest.

[flickr id=”8775299020″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”false” size=”original” group=”” align=”center”]

I have these moments forever with me. To write them, right now seems like it’s too soon. I don’t want to commit them to words on a screen or to paper just yet. I want to keep laughing about Micah and the mustard. I want to remember Ali’s firm advice to not wear heels, to remember that I am not insured. I want to remember how we broke our reverse-alphabetical line-up order, so that Wes and I could sit side-by-side one more time at the ceremony. I want to remember my mother and sister reminding me to relax, to enjoy myself and to stop worrying about the water-marks that the Downy wrinkle-release spray left on the back of my gown. No seriously Jenn, you really can’t see them.

[flickr id=”8775444162″ thumbnail=”medium_640″ overlay=”false” size=”original” group=”” align=”center”]

This is what I will remember, and just so much more goodness.

Congratulations to all of the graduates, but most importantly, to my dear friends, to the class of 2013: Wes, Ryan, Colleen, Micah, Toni, Tatiana, Sharon and Ali. WE DID IT!