Graduation!!!

The moment we had been waiting for and working towards over the past 5 years has finally come and gone. Josh graduated from medical school and he's now a medical doctor!

Words cannot describe how proud I am of him and all that he has accomplished. He worked so hard, studied so many hours, jumped through endless hoops, suffered through painful rotations and exams, and did most all of it with little complaining. Five years ago we moved to Chicago with no idea of what to expect, and now we are coming out of our experience with our lives so much more enriched and blessed. We had some tough times, but overall medical school was a highly enjoyable experience and we are so glad we chose this life in Chicago!

Josh had two graduations, one in scorching heat and the other in pouring rain. But despite the imperfect weather conditions, graduation was exciting. I loved seeing all the students in their awesome caps and gowns!

Pictures from the medical school hooding ceremony:

processional into the tent

 inside the tent, which really turned into a sauna because it was so hot and humid!

 

 receiving his hood (the green thing that hangs around his neck and down his back)

 

 Josh's family

 

 Graduations are long and difficult for adults, but they're even worse for kids! It was a good thing we could easily escape the tent to play while still able to hear the graduation. Here's Owen working on his push-ups with cousin Easton coaching him.

 

We also tried the DVD player, but it didn't last long.

 

Owen finally gave up and fell asleep.

 

The following day was the University convocation ceremony. All graduates from all schools gathered together on the campus quadrangle for this grand ceremony. It was pretty unique this year because the University hadn't had a combined graduation in nearly 100 years. This is where Josh's degree was actually conferred on him. The coolest part of it was the processional, seeing the thousands of graduates walking in from all corners of the quad and bagpipers leading them in. Unfortunately, it was all outdoors and about 3/4 of the way in the skies opened up and it literally dumped buckets of water on everyone! Luckily, the med school had already been announced so we high-tailed it out of there to seek shelter before it was over. We felt bad for all the students stuck in the rain, but at least Josh had an umbrella with him and ponchos had been provided to everyone. I was glad I didn't bring Owen to this one- he went to the Aquarium with most the rest of the family, much more fun than sitting through another graduation!

Pictures from convocation:

no pomp and circumstance here, just the bagpipes!

love the architecture in the quadrangle