The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. ~Sydney J. Harris
This past weekend, I graduated from Duke University.
The forecast called for rain and thunderstorms all weekend, but we actually lucked out with blistering sunshine on Saturday and clouds on Sunday. The air was muggy and the temperature was steaming hot. While I didn’t shed a single tear, I did perspire to no end!!
Here is the recap. Enjoy!
***
On Saturday, we got up bright and early so my parents could get seats in the Chapel for the baccalaureate service.
I sat in the front row of the chapel.
Which meant this was my view of President Broadhead.
Posing with Benjamin B. Duke
We grabbed lunch at an on campus eatery. I shared a grilled veggie panini and strawberry frozen yogurt smoothie with my Momma.
We spent the next 4 hours sitting under the fierce NC sun. My parents are avid tennis fans and were very excited to watch the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship second round match between Duke and UNC.
I enjoy watching tennis. I do. Especially when it’s Andy Roddick LIVE, but this was pretty brutal (my right shoulder/back/neck/chest got so-oh-oh sunburnt). However, we WON so it was somewhat worth the dehydration, exhaustion, and perspiration.
Next, we headed to the President’s Reception in the Duke Gardens.
I proceeded to grab a bottle of water and chug it in 3 seconds flat. Water never tasted so sweet. There were also strawberries, cheese crackers and mini cupcakes served.
For dinner, we went to California Pizza Kitchen. I had my choice of any restaurant and I chose CPK, which we have 10 min. from our home! I wasn’t looking for something over the top and I failed to make reservations anywhere ahead of time.
It was fabulous and just what we wanted!
We ordered plenty to share:
Miso Salad with Crab and Shrimp:
Grilled Vegetable Salad. With eggplant (!!!).
Dressings and toppings on the side.
Tuscan White Bean Minestrone Soup:
Pizza: Goat Cheese with Roasted Peppers on honey wheat whole grain crust!
Can you tell it was MY graduation dinner? 
***
Afterwards, we went to a party hosted by the Duke Alumni Association.
My dad was looking forward to this all day long. Free beer and wine!
Cheers!
***
Graduation Day
I woke up extremely early on Sunday morning for the commencement ceremony.
Processional March
Afterwards we attended a separate ceremony for all Psychology and Neuroscience majors where I received my diploma. They served us Panera sandwiches and cookies.
Then we packed up the rest of my room and hit the road.
Farewell, Duke.
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. ~Beverly Sills
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congrats!!!!
Congratulations, Allie
I wish you all the best!
Oh my goodness, you look gorgeous in the cap and gown! *Tear, tear, single tear.
And CPK, those are some good eats…who would have thunk!?
Can’t wait to see more pics soon!
Congratulations Allie! You made it!
woot woot!! Congratulations Allie!!! You rocked that graduation gown.
hahaha And i LOOOVE CPK salads!! Looks like your whole family had a fabulous time.
P.s. I’m hostin’ a little giveaway for organic preserves and thought it would go PERFECT on top of your Allie bars…or mixed with kefir? hehehehe! Does strawberry basil jam and blueberry merlot sound good to you?
congratulations! what a busy fun and fabulous weekend! can’t wait to follow your next adventures!
Congrats Allie! You’re done!!!!
Congratulations!!!!! You look beautiful!!!
Congratulations!!! You’re done! Go out and celebrate…and get even more excited because even bigger adventures await you in the following years.
congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you look beautiful! what an amazing achievement- a fabulous school! you are only going up with that degree
follow your dreams girl!
(i graduate may 24 eeeek- so nervous… my friends are partying nonstop everyday until then and it’s stressing me out cause i can’t.keep.up!)
Congrats!
Congrats girl! Now go celebrate, you deserve it!
CONGRATS!!
CONGRATS ALLIE!!!!!! I cant believe how fast time flew by! Congrats to you and I wish you all the best!! You are beautiful , smart, strong, and I know you will go far!!!!!
so it’s official.. ur a smartie pants! a gorgeous smartie pants. duke university!?! thats amazing!!! ur amazing
…
and omg the salad, smoothie, and pizza!!! AHhhHHHHhh YUM<3
Congratulations. On a side not I really need to go to the California pizza kitchen I didn’t know it was so good.
Congrats!
What a great recap! CONGRATS!
CONGRATULATIONS ALLIE!
You look awesome in graduation gear! I’m immensely proud of you. But… goodbye Duke 
CONGRATS!! omg who knew CPK had such amazing looking salads??! I need to get my butt over there!
you look beautiful!
Congratulations! You should be so proud and happy. We had separate main and major ceremonies, too–big schools!–but I like that because the diploma ceremony is more intimate.
CONGRATS!
All your pictures are so pretty.
And that pizza from CPK looks delicious… I love their whole grain crusts.
Yay! I liked the quotes you picked, very fitting!
congratulations; what a great accomplishment!
((ps: I get that salad whenever I’m at CPK!))
Congrats Allie!!!!
4 years at Duke is no easy task. Congrats, girl. You definitely earned that diploma.
Congrats! I’m starting my master’s at Duke in the fall and am even more excited after reading this post! Best of luck with your baking – hope to try an AllieBar one day!
Yayyyy super congratulations girlie! All your hardwork paid off! I hope you’re as proud of yourself as your parents and all your bloggie friends are of you!!
Beautiful!!!!
I skipped out on my graduation, but this post makes me regret that a little bit!
Congratulations!!
Wahoooooooo – congratulations!
Congrats!!!
CONGRATS ALLIE! You should be so proud of yourself!
congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay!! Congratulations on graduation! I always think the gown looks awesome and with you in it, it looks awesomer!! Lol. Onto the next phase of your life – I’m sure it’ll be a blast!
Nat xoxo
A million congrats to you sweet Allie!
i can’t believe you DID IT!!! major congrats from graduating from one of the top universities in the nation!!! i graduated from a measy CSU, but DUKE??? THAT IS FREAKIN AWESOME!!
i’m so proud of you!!
so proud of you!
Ahh! Congrats on graduating, Allie! So exciting!
My family LOVES tennis, too. Wimbledon week was intense at our house last summer. My brother wore white clothes every day of the week, haha.
Best wishes for whatever lies ahead!
CONGRATS!!!! AH SO EXCITED! Let the next step begin
!
Congratulations Allie!
I am so proud and happy for you! You look stunning and your parents’ look so proud! Have a wonderful time at home just being you and de-stressing from all that pressure!!
XOXO
Congratulations, darling!
)
Way to go Allie! I’m so proud of you!
Congrats on graduating!!!!
That tennis match seems awesome! and I kinda love the feeling when you’re so freakin’ thirsty and water is more than amazing haha
Awh MASSIVE congratulations to you! You can now finally begin the proper path to becoming a world famous AllieBar baker!
congrats! the pictures are great, and you look lovely. i just graduated too, and it’s pretty surreal. enjoy your summer
Congrats on the graduation! I know your time at Duke wasn’t the best, but you DID IT and deserve major props!!
Congrats! Duke campus is beautiful! I passed through there last summer and had such a good time walking around.
Congratulations Allie! The whole weekend looks fabulous. I love the fact it was over 2 days as well. And I love the formal march on Sunday. I really hope you had a great time.
Congratulations! I graduated this last weekend too.. I think the reality of it is still sinking in
allie –
congrats baby! we made it! i’m so proud of you, and i hope to see you soonsies when we’re in nova together!
xoxo
Congratulations Allie! Woohoo! I didn’t realize you were Psych & Neuroscience – that’s my department! Yay for Harris Cooper giving you your diploma
Congrats on graduating, you look so cute in your hat and all that
Haha…your Dad is Awesome…free wine and beer:-)cc
Congratulations, Allie!!
Allie! Congrats! I love that last photo of you.
I am excited to hear of all your adventures to come!
What’s with the fake towers in Wallace Wade?
Congratulations girl! That’s awesome! I love me some CPK
Congrats, you should be VERY proud! Oh, and I love CPK, yum!
I recognize that smoothie and panino:) Atrium?
Congratulations on your graduation! Sounds like quite the weekend! Esp love the after party, with all the free beer and wine, lol!
Congrats Allie!! I know you’ve been waiting for this day for a longgggg time! I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
Congratulations Allie!! What an accomplishment!!
Best of luck with this next stage of life!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations Allie! Hope you find tons of happiness in post-grad life!!
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