I am personally working my way through not 'feeling weird' while carrying my DSLR to places that people might not expect too. What I have discovered is that it bothers me FAR more than it seems to bother anyone else. So I have gotten so I take it more places than I used to and am getting so I feel a bit less 'weird' while doing it.

You only graduate once, take the big camera, have fun, and get pictures that will record your memories for a lifetime to make up for any 'feeling weird' you experienced while shooting them.