Less Than a Week

In less than a week I may be an Architect. I started my exams on April 30, 2007 and each one has been a small milestone bringing me closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. With every result we celebrated with dinner or something small. After I finished the ninth one, we threw a pretty big BBQ. But now as my state exam draws near, I am realizing that this one, the end of it all, may be the most anti-climatic of them all. It isn't that this one is smaller or simpler. Part of it is the fact I will take it and then drive myself to the airport and fly back to California. Part of it is there is no ceremony, no swearing in, no acknowledgement except for the 7 members on the Oregon Board, my mom and dad waiting in the parking lot and my husband and sister waiting for me in California. I'm not saying those 4 people aren't important, because they are and have supported me through this, I guess I thought I'd have something planned, a trip a treat, a reward of some type for the last year of forcing myself to study. Maybe I don't really know what to celebrate with. I compared it to our friends that have passed the BAR, they wait so long and then they are an attorney. There is a swearing in, but only family and close friends go (we went), but at least they had that. Why does graduating with a degree seem to be a bigger deal? Was that as hard? No, it just took longer! It is only the first step. Having friends in two (plus) states is also hard, because I want to be with everyone at one big time! So tell me, what should I do to celebrate my license?