Attending Graduation

Today was great as I attended my sister Laura's graduation. I met a number of old friends, and the events brought up a number of fresh old memories to me, about when I attended and graduated from high school. I guess that's why there is that proper, yet sometimes forgotten, title of "Commencement" that comes with that special day.
As much as those days have passed by for me (It has been four years since that day occurred for me) I have come to truly appreciate the days of high school, and the fun, the enjoyment, or rather, the "Eden" that those days were, before now. Before I served the mission, and before I returned to attend school at the University. That was the beginning of facing the real world, as I have come to know it. Yet the feelings, overall, are actually bittersweet.
As much as it was also the easy, happy-go-lucky time, it was also a time that I remember, a time when many of my foundational principles were offered to me. These principles, and the real people that I've met, have constituted a great portion for my life here, the new people of whom I would meet, the service opportunities I would find, and the great activities I would learn about, and find my own improvement in, as I moved along.
I remember those years, as I have experienced adverse times, remembering those lessons, those very moments, when the words were given to my ears, whether it be from my sports, from my missed opportunities, or from the friends I had made. I had those experiences come to me, offer me insight for those times, and look forward to the future with more optimism, renewed by the lessons once meant for me then, so that they could finally be applied, finally become accepted by me, and I have enjoyed sweeter times, really making better as I moved along, because I learned from the bitter, how to enjoy, and find the good.
The term "commencement" fits quite well now, because ever since then, it truly has been a start, or a beginning, for me, as I have moved along through the new experiences, and applied them to my work as I have moved along. The experiences really have become less bitter, as I can see them as important, critical landmarks in my life. I ended the day with a nice round of desserts at home, with my family, after all, it really was sweet-no bitter about it.