IT IS FINISHED.

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Graduation Pose., originally uploaded by thewxmanjeckel_83.

I am out! Friday, December 15, 2006 was my last official day at Central Florida Community College as a student.

My final minutes of working in the science department that day were quiet and reflective. I walked around the labs and recovered memories of taking science classes. I looked in the physics lab and remembered the labs that I had, the tests that were taken and how hard that class was for me. I then looked in the chemistry lab where a lot happened. I stood at the lab stations where Erin and I first met in Chemistry I and worked together in Chemistry II. I went into the chemistry glassware room and remembered breaking nearly a whole box of glass by accident. That was embarrassing. I walked in all of the labs, turning out lights and saying goodbye to working and taking classes in the department.

I left at 4 p.m. and waited for Erin to arrive so we could get something quick to eat before graduation.

When we got to the church where graduation was held, we had 90 minutes before the ceremony started. Before 6 p.m., I went in to get my card and pretty much waited in a unorganized line for nearly an hour. I found one of my classmates from Western Ideologies and we stood around and talked for most of the time. Just a little after 7 p.m., the music started to play and the lines began to move. It was finally happening. My heart started to race a little bit. “This is it,” I thought to myself. As we walked in, I could see Erin trying to find me with my camera, but mom found me and took a shot with her camera. We all sat down, watched a speech or two and listened to the CFCC choirs. Afterwards, it was time to walk. Surprisingly, it was quick.

As I stood near the stage and waited for my name to be called, I thought to myself again “this is it.” “Charles Eugene Roop,” the narrator called. I heard some applause and some of the science professors on the stage shout my name. I got off the stage, got my picture taken by Bob Knight photographers and again from Erin. After the ceremony, my family and friends – mother, step-grandmother, aunt, cousin, cousin’s boyfriend, Erin’s mother and sister, and Erin – posed for pictures. We then took off to Steak n Shake for celebration.

It was a great night and very memorable.

Goodbye, CFCC. Hello, UF.

T-Minus Four Hours And Counting.

By Charles E. Roop

Today is my last day of being a student at Central Florida Community College. On that note, I have to say this: It’s about time.

I started at CFCC in the Summer B term of 2002 – just one month after graduating from Lake Weir High. Just one month after getting my amateur radio license. Just one month after freedom from the K-12 system. I expected to be out in just two years – by Summer 2004 – ready for meteorology and journalism dual majors. I was in for one wild journey for the next four years – not two or three.

It was a journey of many accomplishments and many disappointments. I won state awards in journalism. I had the worst academic year in my life (2004-2005) during my time here which prompted a change in plans and major. However, I bounced back to see some of the highest grades I have seen in years including being on the Dean’s List in the fall of 2005.

I have met many people, made many friends and had some good times. I have lost some friends as well. In April 2005, I also said good-bye to a great co-worker – Robert W. Smith – after he was gunned down at the "Old Hell" in Belleview. I had many experiences with love, but most ended with heart break.

I also was able to have a real great job at the Science Department. I will never forget the friends and professors I worked with during my four years with the department. From the setting up of labs, cleaning broken glass and playing with dead cats to having political discussions with Mike and working with a great boss, it was blessing to work with this department. This is one big thing I will miss about CFCC.

The last four years were also years of a lot of things going on in our world. From the unfortunate re-election of President Bush, to the active hurricane season of 2004, there were plenty of things going on that made the years interesting.

I was able to start my years at CFCC by working with a talented staff of one of the greatest college newspapers in the nation. From 2002 to 2004, I was a reporter, photojournalist, news editor and, during my last semester with the paper, a co-editor of the Patriot Press. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience that will aid me at the University of Florida’s journalism program. It was a period when we won many awards including the Pacemaker from the Associated Collegiate Press. I was also – just like in high school – able to work with a great adviser who had passion for her job and would bend over backwards for her journalism students. She is one of the many reasons why it was such a successful paper.

Finally, CFCC is where I met the love of my life, Erin. If I did not take Chemistry I and II when I did and stuck with the meteorology track for just a little longer, I would have never met her. I am lucky to have her in my life.

In just a matter of hours, I will be graduating from CFCC. It is something I have waited years for. I didn’t get out in two years like I wanted, but I was set on this path for a reason. God works in mysterious ways and has a plan for all of us. My experience during my years at CFCC have made me more mature and smarter. My life has changed greatly in the last four years.

Goodbye, CFCC. It’s been interesting.