Graduation

(Ivany Nathalie 12 Science 2)

Graduation is something grand and momentous for me. It is prideful; a moment where you can be proud and confident; the pride of overcoming hardships and the exhilarating thrill of finally being an accomplishment, truly being something. Yet at its core, underneath all the remarkable ceremony and congratulatory gifts, graduation is simple and bittersweet, even nostalgic.

I have had graduations before in my educational journey. Graduation makes me feel older, different, ready, and mature. It’s a pleasant change, a pleasant beginning, and an exciting change. Being a senior always has it perks: the amount of respect you receive, the thrill of graduation, and the relief of finally being at the last stage. Being a senior might be the nicest thing, but more than that, perhaps, is the memory we create as seniors. A last moment, a last stage, a last memento.

This year is going to be different. It’s my final year in senior high and before I knew it, it’s already ending soon. There are thrills and bitter-sweetness to it. There’s this rush to just graduate and leave everything behind and run for college because this graduation is different. I will be independent, an adult. I will be facing a brand new world out there, untamed, and terrifyingly new. There will be options to choose and freedom to use. Yet there’s this little realization that settled so often, in the midst of calm before the grand ceremony itself, of saying goodbye to old friends, the remembrance of both good and bad memories, and the days I spent as a high school student. It is a little sad, a little unfortunate, and so bittersweet. There can never be another chance of going through all of it again.

When I think about it, I’ve had great time learning at school. I’ve had those good memories with striking achievements, a good student with quite a nice reputation. I’ve had those rebellious moments too, where all I did was rebel and fight and ignore schoolwork. I’ve had those off moments, when all I wanted to do was skip school and sleep. I don’t think it is something to regret, but rather to value. After all, it was just me being a teenager and we can only be a teenager once.

The best moment I have had is probably the Yogyakarta Outing trip, when we all went down to the mud field and had this ridiculous mud fight between all the teachers and students. It was the moment when I realized I’m okay, I fit in well, and I enjoyed being a part of this huge family. It was a point where I learnt to lay back and hang out with everyone, yet with enough respect for teachers and seniors. And then there was those little moments of friendship: when we rebelled together, when we pulled pranks on each other, cheated off each other, and experienced excellent teamwork. Also, the memory with the teachers when we joked around with each other, their help and advice, and those labels we often put on each of the teachers. Last but not least, the embarrassing moments are actually pleasant memories to share and laugh at. I can turn all red and happy because of them.

There are also sad moments, like when I fought with friends, when I lost a competition, the casual teenage heartbreaks, bad scores, and those moments when the teachers were being overly strict.

As I’m stepping out into a larger world, there’s no questioning the school’s role in building who I am now. It is via those experiences and memories, both good and bad, that I learned and it truly defined me. School built me. It introduced me to friends and teachers, to a community outside my family. It prepared me to have my own judgments and perspective, to build links, and equipped me with the necessary knowledge for my future.  School is the start of being an independent adult, to be ready. In the future, I hope SHB continues to develop its quality and concentrates even harder in providing the best education for students.

For me, graduation is both a beginning and an end. This, perhaps, is more of a goodbye for me. I’d like to thank the school for all the experience and knowledge, for all the memories. It’s been pleasant learning with you all. In the end, I’d like to say a few words to my juniors. Education is important, yet it isn’t an easy process. School is often boring, often tiring, and it is very tempting to just leave school behind. Often, the endless lectures on how important education truly is seem meaningless. Yet, it IS important. For the future, they often say, and it is hard to wrap our mind around something so futuristic. Education can be both fun and exhausting. If you enjoy the learning process, you’ll find it fun. Enjoy education as a process instead of written scores and certificates. Own your own way of learning. I wish you all good luck in your education.