AW: I graduated today!!!

A.a.A.

Finally, I have waited two years for this day and it has come and gone!!! Time in culinary school has been awesome but now I am ready to get out and put my skills to the test, and return home to FI!!!

My graduation was SO awesome!!! I graduated from a university two years ago and mine today was nothing like it - so much better and more personal, especially since it was less than 70 students. By pure luck, my seat was on the end of the front row closest to the podium, and our guest speaker was Emeril Lagasse! So I was super close to him the whole time, lol! I remember watching his shows when I was younger so it was cool to actually see him in person. He shook all of our hands after we received our cordons (medals basically instead of a diploma for the ceremony) and said congratulations.
I also received two awards!!! I earned the highest GPA in my graduating class and was the only person to get high honors (over a 3.75), so I got an award for that. I also got an award for excellent performance in the management classes. I was so amazed and proud of myself!!! I'm glad that my parents were here to support me as well.
Then at our luncheon afterwards, a few friends and I approached Emeril to take a quick picture with him and not bother him too much. While we were taking the picture, he started asking us all what our plans were, starting with me. I told him that I was moving back to Hawaii, and that I had applied somewhere where I saw he is doing a food show at next month! He told me to contact to his chef organizer (who was there) about coming to assist him!!!!! Even if I don't get a job out of it or even work alongside Emeril, it will still be an amazing experience, so I got a business card out of that!
Sorry this is SUPER long, but I am just really proud of myself and really excited. At this point, I'm not worried about finding a job, it's just a matter of when and where and being in the right place at the right time!
and here's a pic - they gave me "mock" trophies and i'll get the real engraved ones in the mail. One of the them is a silver bowl.... mmkay... I'm planning on using it for fruit! haha!

NaluJS

That is so awesome!!  Congratulations!!  You should be excited & proud!  I love Emeril.  My FI was thinking about going to culinary school.  He is such a great cook and he really enjoys it.  We're a perfect match because I love to eat .  Congrats on also doing such a great job and earning high honors!!  Keep us posted on what you end up doing.  I know you'll do well.  Wish you all the best!!

sandyhorne

Congratulations!  What an accomplishment!!!  Emeril is my hero so I can imagine how thrilled you must have been.  You should be very proud!  You've got an amazing future to come!!

kaesha

Oh wow! Aubrey, that's amazing!! Huge congrats! You better go out and celebrate!

ally_ruth

WoHOOO Congratulations Aubrey!  You've accommplished alot and you should be very proud of yourself.  *hugs & high 5's*

nahokulele

That's so awesome, congrats!!!!  I heart Emeril--you'll have to let us know what he's really like to work with. 

Congrats again--it was so much fun reading about your special day!

HappyGoLuckyGal

Congrats, Aubrey! You should definitely be proud of yourself. That's awesome.

REM2008

YAY!!! That's so exciting!! Congratulations!!!!  What a great accomplishment. 

machan2010

Congrats, such a great accomplishment!!!  That's great that you get to move back home soon, too!  Very exciting!!!

mishy112

That's wonderful!! Congratulations on graduating at the top of your class and the opportunity to work with Emeril!

Angelshann

I'm not on here much anymore...BUT I wanted to give you a big CONGRATULATIONS Aubrey!!  Graduating is such a major accomplishment and yoiu should be so very proud of yourself!!  Its pretty cool you got to meet with Emeril and I hope you get to assist him!! : )

mauidandy

AAAHHH! Congratuations, that's so amazing! You should be so proud of yourself, what an accomplishment. I'm super jealous that you're going to get to work with Emeril, maybe he can put in a good word and get you on the next season of Top Chef

A.a.A.

THANKS ladies!!!

jaymers99

yayyyy!  congratulations...that is so exciting (both graduating and meeting emril).  and you get to move back home to be with FI.  triple yay!  keep us updated on what happens with emril...where is his food show at?

lissamarie30

I have been super busy lately with work and haven't been on much, but i know you graduated and wanted to tell you congrats. It sounds like you had a truly amazing day! i'm so excited and happy for you:)