It is my last day of undergraduate classes, and quite possibly my last day of classes ever! (That is, unless I do decide to go to grad school later on)  Very exciting and scary at the same time.  The prospect of living back at home until I find a job is daunting, but having an excellent cook for a mother is making me feel better about the whole thing

My art show went up on Tuesday, and my family arrived on the Sunday before that.  It was so wonderful having my family around, and they loved my art.  The last time they were here was when they were dropping me off at West Campus Suites my freshman year, so it was nice to show them around Kirksville now that I know the town a lot better.  I took them to the museum at the first school of Osteopathic Medicine at A.T. Still University, Rosie’s cafe (best pancakes in Kirksville if you ask me), Pickler’s Famous, and all around campus.  I liked taking them around the town because it reminded me of all the nice things Kirksville has to offer and that I know I will miss when I leave here in just over a week.  I can’t believe that’s all the time I have left here!

My past four years at Truman have been an insane journey, but I would not have had it any other way.  Coming from Southern California, I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life after that first winter hit, but it ended up being the best decision I could have made.  I am proud of the person I have become here and I am honored to have been able to work with and become friends with some really extraordinary professors and students.

All I can say is….. Thanks Truman.  I’ll really miss you.

Sincerely,

Becky Hernandez 2011

Ah! Time to relax a little. After the craziness of last week (see below), it’s nice to have a three day weekend like this to ease back into things. This year, I’ll be staying here in Kirksville for the duration of this Easter weekend, and if it’s anything like last year, it’ll be a lot of fun!

Tonight I’m going to see my friend in a show, 9 Parts of Desire. I’m really excited to check out this play as it covers fascinating subject material:

“Parts of Desire features nine different female characters who all represent parts of a single female psyche. Played in this context by three actresses, the play tells the story of the plight of women to seek peace, freedom, and justice through a series of monologues.”

The piece was apparently written by an Iraqi American woman, and the stories told are from real Iraqi women’s. It’s great to have events like this to broaden your cultural horizons and experience a new part of the world.

After that, the weekend will be nice and open. I’ll definitely do some homework and loaf about, but I have enough friends here that we’ll certainly find something to do in the evenings. Sunday morning I’ll be running in an Easter 5k that is sponsored by a local church. I have never heard of an Easter morning 5k, but it sounds cool! I enjoy getting to be a part of the Kirksville community outside of Truman. Then of course that afternoon some friends and I will be getting together for a nice big dinner.

All in all, I’m happy to be a little less scheduled so I can just enjoy a relaxing, enjoyable weekend

…of coffee will it take to get me through the next few days?  Only time will tell, but I’m guessing I’ve already exceeded my coffee budget and caffeine quota for this year, so what’s a few dozen more ounces?  I have a lot to do before Sunday.  I will be spending Easter putting my art show up in the University art gallery, but before then I still need to finish my art show.  I have a lengthy Saturday in the studio to look forward to luckily I already have my frames on and my thesis printed, so all I really have to worry about is doing some final touch ups on my paintings and then hanging them up so they don’t fall off of the wall during our opening reception on Tuesday.  I think I can handle that.

I am very excited because my family will be arriving in Kirksville on Sunday evening!!! They are driving from California all the way over here just to see my art show!  The last time they were here was when they dropped me off my freshman year.  Now that I know my way around Kirksville  and we aren’t saying goodbye this time around, it should be a lot more fun.  Plus, they are dragging my best friend along with them so that will make things even more fun!  I have a busy but exciting week ahead of me, and when that’s over it will be finals week.  Holy cow!

As Becky mentioned in her most recent blog, the last few weeks of the semester are always action-packed. However it seems to be doubly so when you are graduating!

Monday night was my fraternity’s senior send-off ceremony. It was great sitting around with my best friends for the past four years and just talking about all our memories from our time together. Thursday night I took the 1.5 hour jaunt down to Columbia to visit a friend for her birthday, and now Friday morning (right now), I have a big ole’ weekend ahead!

Tonight is my last Tag show ever, which still hasn’t sunk in. On top of that there is also my fraternity’s spring formal AND our Parent’s day this weekend, so my mom, dad, and sis are coming into town tonight to see the show and enjoy the weekend. On top of THAT there is also a student showcase tomorrow, so I’ll be up at the crack of 8:00am in order to meet some prospective students and give tours of campus.

While it may all seem a little crazy, it’s more exciting than stressful. As you know, my goal for this school year was to MAX OUT my Truman Experience, and this is exactly what that looks like. These last few weeks will be hectic, yes. But it’s worth it for me to try to do everything I’ve ever done at Truman just one, last time.

There is a love hate relationship with the end of Spring semester that I think is common among most if not all Truman students.  On the one hand, the weather is starting to improve and people are spending a lot more time outside.  On the other hand, work loads are starting to pile up so it’s hard to make time for outside fun.  People are excited for summer or graduation, but the prospect of living back at home for 3 months, going to grad school, or starting a new job or internship can be a nerve racking thing.

I’m trying to enjoy the weather shift, but my senior art show goes up in about 2 and a half weeks, so I have essentially been living in the painting studio with not much outside contact.  I would complain, but I am too excited about my art work to think that I am wasting valuable outdoors hours.  I will have plenty of time to frolic in the grass after my show.

3 more weeks of class + 1 week of finals, and then it’s GRADUATION!!!