Closing a Chapter: My Last Days at TCC and the Milestone That Matters

A Butterscotch Toast to the End of an Era

Wow, is all I can muster to myself as I sit here drinking a non-alcoholic butterscotch beer by Flying Cauldron. A friend/neighbor of mine brought down two bottles for the teen and me last night while we were sitting in the lobby, chatting with another neighbor. We enjoyed the buttery taste so much that we found out what store she got it at and where, then took a bus ride to our local WinCo earlier this afternoon and picked up a pack for ourselves.

It comes in a 4-pack at $5.48, so this is a splurge more than anything else, but I found myself sipping one when I got home after making our homemade Chipotle bowls, brown rice, black beans, corn, salsa, cheese, sour cream, and Taco Bell hot sauce. I then sat down to work on a final paper for the group project I am a part of.

The Final Week of Classes at TCC

Earlier in the day, my professor, who teaches both of my classes this quarter, put out an announcement that Monday is the last day for my PSYCH 209 Fundamentals of Research class, and this week was the last class week for my PSYCH 240 Social Psychology class.

Finals for both classes will be open on Wednesday and Thursday. I get the feeling I’ll probably take them Wednesday night since I have to wake up real early for UW Tacoma’s spring orientation.

It really doesn’t feel that long ago when I had sat down to write the blog post on here about starting spring quarter classes at TCC and now here I am writing about the final days.

Finding the Right Graduation Memento

This whole week, I had been pondering the bookstore, roaming the aisles, wondering what I should get to remember this milestone since I don’t plan to walk on stage. I don’t really want to purchase the cap and gown only for it to sit collecting dust in the closet.

My high school cap and gown eventually ended up becoming a Harry Potter fantasy for my teen when he was around eight. He would wear the gown outside with a wand in hand, pretending to be a wizard, more specifically, Voldemort, his favorite wizard at the time. So at least that one went to good use.

But this time around, I don’t see him running around at our nearby park with a wand, so there’s really no use or reason to get the cap and gown since I don’t plan to walk either. I just want to collect my diploma and celebrate in my own way.

The Search for the Perfect Graduation Keepsake

I was thinking, though, that perhaps I would get a blanket, a rain jacket, or a sweater with the TCC Titan logo, but I decided against it.

• The blanket isn’t great quality.
• I’m not sure if I’d wear the rain jacket, since I always looked forward to buying UW apparel.
• I already own a TCC shirt, but in crimson colors instead of the official blue and gold.
• Coffee mugs, water bottles, champagne glasses, pens, or notebooks didn’t really pique my interest either.

However, for the first time, while looking at the glass case for what felt like the tenth time, I found what I had been looking for.

The Perfect Keepsake: A Diploma Frame

A diploma frame with the Tacoma Community College name and logo on it.

I had been thinking for months about what frame I would get on eBay or at OfficeMax for cheap, so it never occurred to me that buying a custom frame from the college would be the one thing I actually would want to mark this milestone.

And for the first time, I find myself saying it isn’t about the price when considering this decision—it’s about how important and special this journey has been.

Reflecting on My Time at TCC

From meeting my first-ever advisor, who became a dear friend, to thinking about the character that has played a huge role in my life, to acing classes I never thought imaginable, this journey has meant everything.

The case itself is $70.00, last time I checked, and Monday afternoon after class, I will be purchasing one alongside the strawberry milks I mentioned on here before. The teen wants one more before this chapter comes to an end.

The Last Time I Step Foot on Campus

I still can’t believe that this Monday will be the last time I step foot on that campus, or at least for a while.

Perhaps there will be a reason I visit or step foot back on this particular campus again, but it will be the last time as a student unless I can afford some classes on my own. But why do that when I can by that time afford to take classes anywhere else?

Still, I will be forever thankful for this time, and it has been nice documenting my time here.

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Above is what is known a rain garden, it designed to collect rain water from the roof to water the garden below and then below are some of the pictures I snapped this week, including a new treat that I had been waiting to try ever since I found out about it.

Next Stop: University of Washington

So the next time you’ll hear from me in a personal tone such as this post, I’ll be walking the halls and grounds of the University of Washington.

Thanks for being on this journey with me.