This was the first week where it felt like things were starting to get back to normal after Korea.
By the weekend, I was finally able to sleep through the night again, which felt like a huge win. It took longer than expected, but once that sleep schedule resets, everything else gets easier. Energy comes back, focus is better, and you just feel more like yourself again.
It was good timing, too, because this was not a slow week.
He finished up with his Bachelor’s in Business with a concentration in entrepreneurship, and he did it in four years, right on schedule.
That is always something you are proud of. It is not just about the degree, it is about staying consistent and finishing what you started.
It is also one of those moments where you step back and realize how fast that time went.
Me and Holly went up Wednesday, and I worked out of the Charlotte office on Thursday before heading over that evening.
That part of the week felt like a mix of normal routine and getting into event mode. You are still working, still handling things, but you know what is coming over the next couple of days.
We waited a little longer than usual to book a place to stay, and it actually worked out perfectly.
We ended up finding a bed and breakfast that had just the right setup for everyone. Between me and Holly, my brother and his family, my parents, and Holly’s parents, we needed multiple rooms.
This place had exactly what we needed, so we rented the whole thing out.
That turned out to be one of the best parts of the weekend. Instead of everyone being spread out across different hotels, we were all in one place.
It made everything easier. You could hang out in the living room, talk, relax, and just spend time together without having to coordinate meeting up somewhere else.
It had that big country house feel, with a large porch and open space, even though it was only about 10 minutes from campus. So it felt quiet and relaxed, but still really convenient.
The owners ran it themselves, and the husband made breakfast each morning, which added to the whole experience.
It is one of those setups that just works for a weekend like this. Simple, comfortable, and easy for a group.
There were a lot of people there, but it still felt organized and intentional.
Nido Qubein spoke, which everyone expected, but what stood out was that he shook every single graduate’s hand. That takes time, but it says something about how they approach things there.
He is also someone the students genuinely seem to like. He is known for being around campus, talking with students, and doing small things like handing out chocolate bars during holidays. It creates a different kind of environment.
They also had a keynote speaker who was a former CEO of Walmart. She spoke about her experience leading both Walmart and Sam’s Club and shared some perspective as she is stepping into retirement. It was a strong, practical message that connected well with the graduates.
And then Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA,” which is something he does often at High Point events. It added a different kind of energy to the ceremony and made the whole thing feel more memorable.
After graduation, it was time to start packing everything up.
And that is when you realize how much stuff someone collects over four years.
It is not just clothes or books. It is everything. Dorm items, decorations, and random things that somehow made sense at the time.
We spent a good part of the day loading everything up and getting it ready to head home. It is a process, but it is also part of closing that chapter.
We grabbed some Chinese food, went out to our land, and just sat on the tailgate watching everything around us. Birds, trees, just being outside.
No big plans, nothing complicated. Just sitting, eating, and talking.
Sometimes those are the moments that stand out the most.
He has all his stuff back, which is a project in itself, and now it is about what comes next.
It is an interesting point. One chapter closes, and another one starts, but it is not always immediately clear what that looks like.
That is part of it.
It was a full week.
Finally getting past jet lag, traveling, graduation, family all in one place, packing everything up, and starting to look ahead.
A lot going on, but all good things.
And it was one of those weeks where, even though it was busy, you could step back and appreciate what was happening in the moment.
💼 Shane Smith Law – Personal Injury Attorneys
📺 Did you enjoy reading about my week? Check out my other blogs at https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/blog/
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