Graduation!!!!!

Dan here, and I thought I might post something since it seems to have been awhile. Today I turned in the last assignment of my college career. It was a 15-page paper that addressed the question of whether or not the USA Patriot Act violates the Fourth Amendment (which it does not), upon which my entire graduation hinged. The class is required and provides the final four credits needed to graduate. On Friday May 2nd, I will graduate from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.

I spent several late nights staring blankly at the computer screen, and swimming in a sea of law reviews and scholarly articles trying to piece it all together. And I finally finished it about 3:45 this morning. I know to some of you, that is not a very long paper because you have written papers two to three times that length, but for a guy like me who loves to procrastinate and skate by with as little effort as possible it was an ordeal.

When I turned it in, it was kind of anti-climactic. There was no moving music that swelled as I handed it over to the professor. Instead, I quietly slid it under the door because she was not in her office. Inside however, I felt like Chris Farley in Tommy Boy after he finds out that he got a D+ on his last final and is going to graduate college, pure ecstasy! Although I don't know my grade yet, I'm confident that the paper is good enough to obtain a passing grade.

I want to say thanks to all who have helped me along the way with encouragement, money, prayers, etc. specifically: Dad and Lori for letting me mooch off them until I got married, and for Lori having a job that gave me half-tuition costs, so that I could afford to even go to college; Grandpa Fellows, and Grandpa and Grandma Vuyk for their generosity that allowed me to remain student loan free; and last but definitely not least, my bella Patrice. Her endless patience and encouragement gave me the focus that I needed to finish these last two years. I could not have done it without her. If she had not come into my life, I would probably still be trying to decide what major I should choose.

I love all who read this, and thank you again for being part of my life. I am a better person because I know you. And if you are reading this and I don't know you, that last statement would probably be true of you as well, unless you're a serial killer or something. Anyways, hooray for me!!

P.S. The picture is mere minutes after turning in the assignment.