In the journey of life, we encounter many unwanted goodbyes that often make us mourn. Those goodbyes that sadden our hears and shatter our souls.
In a way, graduation ceremonies are also a goodbye. For some, it is a goodbye to a life with little to no responsibilities. For all of us, it is a goodbye to four years of laughs and frustrations that have shaped us into who we are today.
My high school held this year's graduating ceremony on June 1st. That day, I woke up extra early so that I could look decent on pictures. I made sure to put on waterproof mascara because movies have taught us that these kinds of days can only lead to bittersweet tears. When all the speeches had been said, my peers and I could finally do the walk of victory, get our diplomas and shake our principal's hand. After all the caps were thrown in unison, we ran outside to take pictures with as many people as we could.
While all of that was happening, I can only remember myself smiling. I would be lying if I said that that ceremony felt like a melancholic farewell. Afterwards, I even felt bad because I cried during "High School Musical 3" and not during my own graduation.
Only the following weeks would make me realize that I hadn't cried that day because our graduation ceremony was a summary of our achieved goals and not a farewell before a "one-way trip." I realized that all the people who had been behind us, impelling us forward, will still be there for us.
It is because of this that we can look back with the satisfaction that not only did we culminate a personal project by graduating but we also took the first step toward a future led by us. We should feel satisfied because we met people who, with the passage of time, we can now call real friends.
The same teachers who planted the seed of education in each of us, were some of the most grateful spectators during graduation. Not because we were finally leaving but because we will now be able to share our fruits with the rest of the world. Their words will keep motivating us and their example will keep inspiring us despite the distance.
The reason why I can say that I graduated today is because, today, I can also say that I am OK with not seeing most of my high school friends in the near future. I am the only one from my class who will be attending NDMU, and that's fine. I will not be able to keep in touch with all of my former teachers as much as I used to but that doesn't make me less thankful for them.
I graduated today by committing to employ the tools given to me in an effort to give back.
