UTD Graduations

I had this privilege this week of attending 2 graduations at UTD for 2 sweet friends I've made over the last couple of years! 

 Thursday afternoon I was able to leave work a little early--thanks to my gracious boss-- and head over for my friend Yali's graduation.  We met Yali 2 years ago when she first came to America.  She befriended our good friend Lucas, so we got to know her right away.  They have since started dating and we love getting to spend time with the 2 of them!  They are a part of our Young Adults group at church and come to our weekly discussion group at UTD.  Yali has become a very good friend of mine and I was so honored when she asked me to attend her graduation ceremony

 She was close to the end where we were sitting and she found us right away, so it was fun getting pictures of her looking right at us!

 After the ceremony we headed over to the Engineering building to take pictures.  I don't have any of me and Yali together (those are on her camera), but I did snap a few of her with Lucas

 Her parents came from China to attend the ceremony.  It was fun meeting them and seeing how proud they were of her!  She is now on a trip with them, taking them to San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, Vegas and Yosemite before they head back to China in a couple of weeks!

 She just looks so happy (and relieved) to be done!

 This morning David and I both got to attend the graduation ceremony for my friend Ivy.  Ivy and I were matched up through the International Friendship Partner program in September of 2012.  We've gone on a few adventures together and I've loved getting to know her as she's been pursuing her masters in Accounting.  We met up with her roommate Michelle (who graduated this afternoon) and cheered Ivy on!

 She was ready to cross that stage

After the ceremony we went around campus with her and took pictures with various landmarks that she wanted.

I am so proud of both of my friends and how hard they have worked to earn Masters Degrees.  I can hardly imagine how difficult it is to get a Masters Degree... much less to study for one in a foreign country.  They both have studied and worked hard to get where they are today and I admire them both so much for all they've done!  It has been a true blessing to get to know so many international students over the past years and I am glad to count these two sweet women as friends!  And I am even more excited that both of them are planning to stay here (at least for a while) and look for jobs in America.  I look forward to continuing friendships with both of them.