Hi Jess!!
I'm sorry you are frustrated right now. It can be very frustrating and confusing when you first start experimenting with your camera settings. Trust me though, the frustration is worth it in the long run!
Yes, please post those pictures so we can see them.
Here's a few suggestions...
When taking pictures of important things like a child's graduation or a wedding, first take the picture using your camera's auto setting. Then take a second picture in the manual mode. If you do this, you can be certain you will have a properly exposed picture. You said you will be going to Fort Worth tomorrow. I strongly recommend you do this. Also, you can go back and look at your pictures once you get home. Pay attention the settings your camera chose in the auto mode, and compare them to your settings in manual. Not only will you be certain you have a set of beautiful pictures but you can also learn something too. So remember to shoot those important pictures TWICE - once on auto, and a second time on manual.
Remember to turn on your camera's histogram. I believe your A530 camera has a histogram built into it. I tried to explain how to read the histogram last night and you should see it a few posts above this one. You might already know how to use the histogram, but many people are confused by what it is and how to read it. A histogram is a very nice tool because it gives you at-a-glance exposure information. You can quickly see if the image is over or under exposed in real time.
Your camera's EV (exposure compensation value) will always help with over and under exposure. You can easily adjust the exposure using your camera's EV.
For now, the most important suggestion I can offer you is to
shoot those important pictures TWICE; once in auto and then again in manual. Please remember to do this tomorrow when you are in Fort Worth.