It's Almost Time: Graduation And Bittersweet Nostalgia
May 3, 2019 / Spark Magazine
It is often said that college is supposed to be the best four years of your life. Amongst the many all-nighters, friends and rooftop parties, college is the time when many people begin to discover who they are and where their passions lie.
I always believed that if these four years were supposed to be such a life-changing experience, then they must be commemorated as such.
I came from a town that was relatively conservative compared to Austin, and I was always afraid of wearing clothes that I liked because it wasn’t what everyone else was wearing. My entire freshman year closet consisted of free T-shirts from Jester, Chacos, and Nike shorts, which was probably the attire of most freshman girls. It wasn’t until my junior year that I realized fashion could truly be a powerful form of self-expression.
It was that same year that my interest in photography blossomed, and I decided to combine my two newfound hobbies by pursuing fashion photography. Ever since then these two pastimes have become a big part of my life and I felt that it was only right that my graduation photos reflected that — so I decided to style my own graduation photos.
I know that when I look back at these pictures years from now, I’ll be able to remember the person I was at this very moment. I'll also never forget how happy I was, to be comfortable in my skin and be surrounded by so many inspiring young people. •
Written by: Casey Tang
Photographed by: Paige Miller & Kristina Jin
HMU by: Casey Tang
Styled by: Casey Tang
Casey Tang is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Biology. When she’s not photographing for Spark, she enjoys painting, finding treasures at the thrift store, and consuming way too many carbs.