Simply Diana

I sit here writing this as a recent college graduate! Yesterday was the big day, and it was definitely a bittersweet one. It was rainy but it didn't ruin my day to spend my last moments with my friends from college. College was no walk in the park as a Biology major, and it was no different for my last semester at Stony Brook University. I'm having so much trouble trying to even figure out what to say in this post because there was just so much that happened these past four years. I came in as a scared freshman who had a hard time adjusting because it was my first time being so far from home. As I went through the years I figured out how I study best, and I met some pretty wonderful people that I will definitely keep close to my heart even though we all are now heading on to our different paths in life. Here's a short list of a few things that I learned in college:

1. There will always be work. If you don't have time for your friends, make time.

2. You will meet so many different types of people who are going to challenge your way of thinking and your morals. It's good to try new things but it's always important to be grounded in terms of who you are.

3. If you discover something that makes you happy, keep doing it. It can be the one thing that keeps you sane when everything is falling apart.

4. You are much, much stronger than you think you are.

Ultimately, college has made me realize just how awesome my parents are even more than before. Not everyone can say that their parents came to America as refugees escaping the country during war with their lives in a suitcase and not a cent to their name. They've had their heads on straight the entire time. There are people who were in similar situations as my parents that have fallen to gambling addictions and party harder than their children. My parents have worked hard their entire lives so I can now proudly say that I am part of the first generation in my family to graduate with a bachelor's degree.

I'm a little nervous, but I honestly cannot wait to see what life has in store for me. Congratulations to everyone in the class of 2014, I know you will all do great things!

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”

― Anatole France

I learned a new word recently: frisson. It's the word used to define the chills and goosebumps you get whenever you experience some type of emotional excitement. Let me just say that I experienced frissons of excitement all throughout today! I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time today (yes native New Yorkers, my first time) to do an assignment for my painting class, and IT WAS AWESOME. You can literally spend days in there because the museum is so enormous. What's good about having general knowledge about drawing and painting is that it allows me to really appreciate the work that other artists produce as well, so I was really looking forward to seeing all of the artwork. Since every other time I've gone to Central Park it's either rained or I've ran out of time, Sandy and I strolled through Central Park on our way to the Met.

The lovely Sandy.

We walked past these two ladies playing in Central Park, and it made me miss playing the violin.

Spring is my absolute favorite season, therefore every time spring rolls around most of the pictures I take consist of flowering trees. So of course while we were walking I had to take five million pictures of the cherry blossoms. :)

This painting of Monet's Waterlilies was my absolute favorite of all of the paintings we saw today. I was pretty awestruck by the fact that I was staring at famous paintings from some of the most well-known artists in history. Seeing the real thing is a pretty big deal for me.

Wheat Field with Cypresses, 1889- Vincent van Gogh

Self Portrait with a Straw Hat - Vincent van Gogh, 1887

Me with A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884 - George Seurat

This one brought me down memory lane, because the first time I saw a photograph of this painting was in art class in elementary school.

A Massacre of the Innocents, 1824 - Francois Joseph Navez

This was also a favorite although I'm not familiar with the artist. I couldn't get over this painting and how realistic it looked. It made me realize that if I were to ever go to the Sistine Chapel in the future, I probably would never leave.

Dancer in Green, 1883 - Edgar Degas

To end everything we wound up going to the exhibit that showcased different room setups in European and American history. Everything was so elegant; I often found myself picturing people who could have lived in these types of houses back in the day.

Thanks Sandy for being my museum buddy again! There's no one else I'd rather go to bookstores/stare at random stuff in museums with than you.

Striped Cloth and Glass Bottles

Graduation!

Jaymes Young - Habits Of My Heart (Sufjan Stevens Remake)

If you are going through hell, keep going.
― Winston Churchill

Finals Time

To The Met!

Charcoal Sketch