done.

It is finished. I have come upon a landmark time in my life. Yesterday I took the last two tests of my undergraduate career, and around 10 pm last night I confirmed that I completed my degree. After working so hard and learning about History, English, Economics, Finance, Business, and a multitude of other subjects, I have earned a Bachelors of Science from one of the most prestigious universities in the Southern United States. And let me tell you, it feels good. Really good.

This is huge personal victory for me. After hearing countless people tell me how hard it is to graduate early, I finally graduated with a 4 year degree in 3 years. I am thrilled. I will receive my Aggie Ring and degree in the morning. That day will be all about personal victory. My personal victory. That day is all about me, and how proud I am of myself. Nothing else matters because I have done something that I set out to do. I accomplished my goal.

I have numerous family and friends making the journey to College Station as I write this entry. Honestly I was not expecting so many people to come down for the ceremony, but it has once again shown me how many people I have backing me up. At certain points during my education, I had forgotten how many supported me, but at times like this it is nice to be reminded.

I am very excited about the next few days. I am feeling emotions that I will never forget. I am an official holder of a Texas A&M Bachelor's degree.

Censored Olympics

As you very well know, the 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in China. China is the most populous country in the world, and is quickly becoming a powerhouse industrialized country. They are also a communist country that is infamous for not being very humanitarian. Also, the country has a big pollution problem that has caused the air quality to be very low. These reasons are causing many groups and activists to boycott the entire Olympics Games this Summer.

Now there is another problem with the Olympic host country. This article reports that China now has restricted the journalists visiting China to a modified internet. The Chinese officials are going to restrict our citizens' rights while they are reporting on a global event. Of course, China has the power and right to put these restrictions on visiting reporters, but is it really ethical to censor peoples' rights to free speech?

The committee that decides the location of the Olympics should seriously be reprimanded. As much potential as the Chinese citizens and economy has, they are just not ready to host an event of this caliber. The administration that chose China for the Olympic Games should have had the foresight to see these problems.

Will I be boycotting the Olympics? No, I will watch them as much as I normally do, which is honestly not much to begin with. I will, however, set my Tivo to record my favorite Olympic Sport.

I study best when under pressure

I have a test in 12 hours. A test that will help determine if I graduate in 12 days. Have I studied? No I have not. Instead, I am writing in my blog that I have been neglecting for a while. Considering only 2. 5 people read this, I am not too worried about it.

Erin left CS a few hours ago, but once again this weekend was amazing. These weekends that we spend together are wonderful. I am going to miss them so much when she moves back to Manhattan for her last 32 weeks of class. But at least I will have these weekends as warm memories while she is studying in the frigid tundra of Kansas.

Mom and Dad came down this weekend to help me move out of my apartment. During this process, I came upon an internal realization about my personality: I HATE MOVING. I am not sure how I would have done it without my parents and girlfriend kindly helping me out; and they did not complain one single time. This weekend once again reminded me that I am truly blessed to be surrounded by people that love me so much.

This weekend also reminded of another blessing: my church that I have called home for the past 24 months. Today was my last service at Cornerstone Family church. As much as I am ready to get plugged into ALC again, I am also going to miss the people in College Station. They have done so many things for me and I will rememeber them all... Chad and Tamisha always saying a kind word, Charles and Kati feeding me once a week, the Utermarks inspiring me to follow Jesus more closely and even Sabrina telling me that her voice doesn't sound right in her monitor.

Wow. God is good. And He has truly blessed me with friends, family, and an amazing relationship. Now I need to study.