Let’s take a look at my class schedule after spring semester wraps:
Summer 2025 (Registered)
- Intro to Hospitality
Fall 2025 (Registered)
- Cake Decorating I
- Cake Decorating II
Spring 2026 (Prospective)
- Advanced Food Prep
- Fundamentals of Baking
Class Left for Summer or Fall 2026
- Principles of Healthy Cuisine
When I swapped the AAS degrees for certificates, I knew it would be a big change. But get this, if my classes goes according to the schedule above, I will be able to walk in the May 2026 graduation ceremony (!!).
I wasn’t sure people who earn certificates would get a separate ceremony or like, any kind of recognition from the school, to be totally honest. But I talked to an advisor and they said I would be eligible to walk in the graduation ceremony with everybody else.
As for the outstanding class: The rule of thumb at my college is that if you have 9 credit hours or less (which translates to 3 or less classes) left on your program by the time graduation rolls around, you can walk in the ceremony. I actually walked for my second bachelor’s degree with 6 weeks of classes to go because of the way classes were scheduled.
Could not be more excited that the finish line is actually in sight and not somewhere off in 2040, maybe, if I’m lucky, and oh yeah, I have to work 60 hours for over a year to make it happen.
In order to get into the spirit and stay motivated, I am now starting to think of the following:
- Details for an amazing graduation party
- A fantastic grad cap design
- Maybe I should look into framing my degrees and certificates? Instead of leaving them in cardboard sleeves in a box… I mean… If I’m feeling fancy?
- Where am I going to find people to eat all my decorated cakes when I cannot possible stomach anymore chocolate?
