College Orientation

After high school wrapped up, we headed to Columbia for oriendation at the University of SC! The registration line was wrapped around the building, but at least she had some Panera tea to sip on.

Once checked in, the students had to take their overnight packs to the dorm room. No parents allowed. The cool part was that orientation students slept in her assigned dorm for this fall, so she got an early glimpse of the room layout and dimensions.

It was a hot afternoon, but we were all smiles as we walked to the various buildings instead of taking the shuttle bus like 99% of the attendees. 

It surprised me that she obtained her official student card on Day 1. This will be her ID for the next four years, her meal plan card, and her Carolina Cash card for miscellaneous purchases.

A brief break in the schedule allowed us to walk around campus for some pictures and visit St. Thomas More, the Catholic student center.

Most of the sessions had parents and students separated, but I was in the right place at the right time to see her walking by with her small group. 

She now has her schedule of classes and the resource connections for the many clubs and associations she plans to get involved with. She's so ready! If only I were as ready to let her go.

Graduation

Graduation day was finally here! As family arrived for her big day, we had fun doing simple things like going for a walk...

And seeing Julia's name on the school marquee.

It was a busy morning as we all rushed to get to LIttlejohn Coliseum in Clemson. Julia had to get to the front of the lineup since she was 2nd to walk in. I loved seeing her on stage with the top of her class!

Then, she gave the BEST salutatorian speech ever! 

Click below to watch. 

  https://youtu.be/H-UPe7uFSUo

As she collected her diploma, I swelled with pride. It will be the first of several degrees for this smart cookie!

I love this close up of her looking at her diploma. 

Then once the ceremony was over, this pic captured her exiting the arena among a line of teachers cheering the graduates on. 

After graduation, we took as many pictures as we could before she'd rush off again to see her friends. We got one with her dad...

Her siblings (and neice)....

Her grandpa (and neice again)...

And one with everyone who came to visit. We are so grateful for those who traveled to be here and for those who watched online from afar. 

This is her bestie and will be her roommate at the University of South Carolina.

Congratulations, sweet girl! I look forward to watching you make a difference in the world!

Pictures and Awards

The senior pictures are starting to scroll on the school's social accounts. Now it's getting too real. 😭

We opted to take her graduation pictures at places that meant something during her high school years. The one place she spent more time studying than at home was at Panera.

We also took a few at the school.

The stadium picture was cute. It showed off her soccer and cross country sports.

On awards day, she was so late arriving (from not being able to find a place to park) that she missed her Salutatorian award. It was embarrasing, at least for me. When she finally showed up, they called her back on the stage to receive the appropriate recognition. 

The PEO scholarship award was really nice. The lady who gave the announcement was a friend of ours from church.

Then it was senior signing. 

There is a large group going to USC-Columbia! Julia and her roommate are wearing the grey shirts in the front.

And finally, as they exited the school for the last time as students, they walked through a parade of parents, teachers, and students from all three schools (elementary, middle, and high). 

The seniors walked to the stadium for a class photo and pizza lunch.

2nd Senior Semester

The final semester of her high school has just flown by! It's been so busy that's it hard to sit back and realize how quickly she'll be graduating. I'm just not ready!

In soccer, her senior banner was hung by the stadium. This picture was also used on social posts for game day.

One of the media photographers took this great action shot during a home game.

The whole varsity team that made it to playoffs. 

On senior night, the parents got to walk on the field with their daughter while the announcer (Luke) shared the post-graduate plans of each player.

 

The seniors each had a special poster during the last home game celebration. I had less than 24 hours notice to make it, so I didn't have time to pull all the cute pictures of when she played soccer in U6 - U12. Those would have been perfect to display.

The younger varsity players each picked a "big sis" to surprise on senior night. Here's Julia with her two "little sisters". They got her a USC Gamecock shirt, a sparkly beverage, dried fruit snacks, and other treats. So sweet!

Her final orchestra concert was also a tribute to the seniors. Julia and her friend, Ansley, were the ones recognized as having played strings every year throughout high school. 

The strings teacher said some kinds words and gave each of them a pink cord to wear at graduation. 

Ansleys mom also made a senior poster for the girls since they have been friends since they were babies at daycare. They had taken so many pictures together all those years!

The senior trip was to Dollywood. How does this girl only go there once in her life and happen to time it perfectly for the rare visit by Ms. Dolly Parton herself? Such a cool selfie, too! 

Senior Prom

 Our last prom night. The girl, the dress, the hair...all just beautiful! 💙

She went with a great group of besties. The one in the black dress will be her college roommate. 

We took pictures at one of the parks downtown. There was a beautiful tree blooming with flowers that looked like icicles dangling down. 

The photo of them spinning around showed off the back of their hairdos. So pretty!

One more group picture with the full length of the gowns.

Then one of us with our beautiful girl.

As each student entered prom, their photos were posted to social media. I love how this one showed off their smiles!

Easter Fun

 I had all the kids home for Easter this year which was such a blessing!

After church, we ate our big meal and did an Easter egg hunt. Yougest always goes first, with a staggered start going up by age. Opa got to go first with our sweet grandbaby. Her eggs were the easiest to find with special treats like "kisses from Grandma."

Next was Julia who was about a minute before Luke. They found some good eggs, but not the best ones. Their eggs were filled with candy, $1 bills, and $5 bills, with an occasional $2 lottery ticket. 

Ashlyn and Alex had to go last, but they sure cleaned up by finding all the gold, silver, and mystery eggs. They won a $50 Walmart gift card, some beet gummies, a $10 bill, and a $10 lottery card along with Panera bagel coupons.

But I had the best gift of all by getting my training hike in with this cutie! She loved observing all the flowers, birds, and people on the trail. 

Green Vally Road Race 5k

Mom and dad went to all of Julia's road races during all her 2024 PVHS cross country season.  We always enjoyed cheering her on.  It was fun to walk/run to different places along the course to cheer Julia on. By walking (mom) and running (dad) we were able to see her multiple times during the race and give her encouragement and positional status.

Recently, we switched the roles. Mom and dad ran the race and Julia cheered them on.  Mom and dad entered the GTC Green Valley Road Race which was a 5K and a 10 mile race.  We opted for the 5k (3.1 mile) version.  

Here is dad nearing the finish exibiting a strong runner's stride. 

Here is mom sprinting towards the finish line, still happy and smiling.  

Julia ran along the course to meet mom and dad in several locations.  She cheered us on and warned us about an upcoming hill ( that seemed like a mountain).  It was fun to switch roles.

Mom and dad both came in 4th in their age group.  It was a strong finish.

Julia checked the race results and compared the results to her typical 5k race time.  Julia would have likely come in first place overall female in this race.  Next time!