Tag Archives: class of 2016

Slice of Life

Apparently I’m a college graduate.

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In case you missed it (or misunderstood what all of my melancholy blog posts were leading up to) I graduated from Mercer on Saturday.

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TIM GRAHAM//May 14, 2016: Hayley and Leslie at the Macon undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2016. 

That being said, you’ve probably already read about my graduation already, because JIMMY CARTER & GREGG ALLMAN WERE OUR COMMENCEMENT GUESTS. That’s right folks, our commencement address was given by none other than the Honorable Jimmy Carter followed by a performance by Gregg Allman.

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TIM GRAHAM// May 14, 2016: Jimmy Carter, former president, addressed the Mercer University Class of 2016 at their commencement ceremony Saturday. Mr. Carter encouraged the graduates to focus on advocating for peace and human rights.
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TIM GRAHAM//May 14, 2016: Gregg Allman performed Melissa and Midnight Rider at the Mercer University undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2016, shortly before being awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities.
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TIM GRAHAM//May 14, 2016: Former President Jimmy Carter assists in the hooding of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Gregg Allman at the undergraduate commencement ceremony at Mercer University on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Mr. Allman is the third individual to receive this honor from the University.

It was incredibly memorable. You could tell how much love and respect that Jimmy Carter has for Gregg Allman. Shortly after, our degrees were conferred and I walked across the stage to receive my diploma [cover].

It was fascinating! I’m not a huge crowd/audience person, so most of the pictures taken of me walking include a very stiff upper lip. (SIDE NOTE: I don’t mind public speaking or presenting to large audiences, but there’s something about public recognition that makes me a little uncomfortable.) Hayley and I played a game to try to determine whose family would cheer (spoiler alert: part of mine did). It was long, but it was definitely well worth it.

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TIM GRAHAM//May 14, 2016: Leslie shaking hands with Mercer University President, Bill Underwood at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

We had a dinner reservation after the ceremony, so instead of trying to get pictures among the throngs of people, we went back Sunday morning.

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LOGAN GRAHAM//May 15, 2016: Laura, Leslie, and Tim pose for a picture next to the Mercer Bear Statue located on Cruz Plaza on Sunday, May 15, 2016.
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TIM GRAHAM//May 15, 2016: Leslie poses for a photo next to the Stetson School of Business and Economics sign. Leslie graduated with a BBA in Marketing on May 14, 2016.
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TIM GRAHAM//May 15, 2016: Leslie displays her gradcap on Sunday, May 15, 2016. The quote “it won’t be boring” is taken from David Bowie’s 1998 concert address “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring”.

I’m sure everyone thinks they had a great time in college, but I had a great time in college. Mercer University was a great place for me to grow up, meet my future husband (who surprisingly was not photographed with me Saturday or Sunday… go figure), and establish the beginnings of a lifetime of change making.

Thanks Mercer, it’s been great.