we had a good run, guys...

I finished college today and it really is bittersweet.

glad to be moving on, sad to be leaving Santa Barbara.

happy to be finished of school, heartbroken to leave my friends.

to be honest, as much as i loved coming home. i loved SB just as much. it was the regular. the familiar. the daily grind. now life has taken another step forward and these past 4 years have been prepping me for this moment. it's being stripped away like a bandaid on my elbow and it's not easy. life is transitioning.

:cue music for the rest of the post:

after the ceremony: it's crazy everyone just congratulating you and i'm like, did i even do anything? tbh i dont know what to say. it's all so blurred, yet crisp and vivid. it's going to take time to set it. but i want to say this while it's fresh on my mind.

Gratitude: i absolutely love and thank my family from the deepest parts of my heart. they have supported me through the best and worst times. your presence at my graduation was perfect. nothing less. Thank you for investing your love and time into my life. it's manifested itself today as i walked. thanks so much. :D

my girls. umm, i dont know what to begin with, but i'll just keep it real. I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH. your constant listening and talking evolved my understanding and thinking of the female psyche. From the start to the end, your relationships were of the best i've ever had and i know that they're going to grow exponentially from here on out. i can't really write everything i've been thankful for with all of you, but just know that i've treasured these times with you all SO SO SO MUCH. praise to God.

my boys. i dont know what to say tbh. you're all so perfect. you've been there with me through the CRAZIEST and MOST REDONKULOUS times of my life in recent years. stuck with me through my crappy outbursts of passive aggressiveness and utterly taught me so much in return. through and through, I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. it has been nothing short of amazing, nothing short of perfect. if bromance was an option with multiple bros allowed. this would be my relationship status. i'm completely and utterly blown away. it was mind-blasting. i am just so blessed to have you all in my life. i love you all. praise to God.

and the most thanks goes out to God. i mean, how does a guy like me (super slacker) without aim or purpose other than to live...do anything? GOD is the source that has destined all this to happen for His glory. all praise goes to Him without question...because without Him, i wouldn't have gotten 20 units. without Him, i wouldn't have passed anything. without Him, i would cease to live. without Him, i wouldn't be saved. what would i do without you, God? ahhh, my life would be in such utter shambles is whattt. PRAISE TO YOU AND YOU ALONE!

He deserves all the praise and glory for this glorious college experience because i didn't do anything to deserve it... it was the best time of my life. i actually did receive a true "college experience"

nothing compares to it...literally nothing :D

My prayer for those aforementioned:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:3-11

title source: right before we got on stage to get our names read. i was second in line in the front, so as we turned the corner, i saw everyones faces behind me. it was amazinggg to see. i went down the line with everyone's face and i remembered all the good times we had. and that's what prompted me to realize and say to them all...

"we had a good run guys." congrats everyone. we made it.