Graduation

20th July will be one of those days in my life that I look back upon with immense pride and fondness. It was the day of my graduation, a day that marked a closing of one highly memorable chapter of my life and the start of a new phase that promises to be just as exciting.



The day was highly charged with a mix of emotions. I woke up that morning all excited, nervous and determined to look perfect on my big day. Two hours of fussing over my hair, makeup and clothes later, I was on my way to university accompanied by my parents, looking just as gorgeous and grown-up as I wanted. The first thing I had to do when I arrived was to collect my academic gown, trencher and the pearl-white hood all graduating undergraduates wear. I swear, when I put the full regalia on, I felt utterly transformed. It's hard to describe, but I felt like I had indeed become the mature and confident young woman ready to take on the world that I always aspired to be. The nervousness about going onstage or making embarrassing mistakes was replaced by a cool confidence and fierce pride in myself.


The hours before the ceremony were spent taking many photos of myself and myself with my parents in various parts of the school. It was, most thankfully, a beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky, perfect for photo-taking. We had fun taking photos, but there was an underlying anxiousness about being there in time at the designated venue for the big ceremony, so we reported half an hour early. My parents and two friends who I invited to attend my graduation then left to find seats in the hall and I went to join my fellow graduates.



We graduates were the stars of the day. We entered the hall in a long procession, and the audience erupted in cheers and flashes of camera lights. So this is what it feels like to be a celebrity, I thought to myself. An opening speech was made, the first batch of students went up to receive their scrolls, the valedictorian gave a speech, the presentation of scrolls resumed and all too soon, it was my turn. This is it, I told myself as I watched by the side of the stage as the person before me received her scroll. Some of the nervousness I felt in the morning returned, but before I knew it, I was walking across the stage towards the Chancellor upon hearing my name being called. We smiled, shook hands, and I received my scroll with both hands and thanks. My moment in the spotlight was over in less than a minute. I then proceeded to a desk at the back of the hall to collect the remaining documents, which included my academic transcript and certificate. On my way back to my seat, I caught sight of my parents and friends smiling and taking photos of me. I beamed and stopped for a moment to show them my scroll and documents. The ceremony ended with a speech by the guest-of-honour, an alumni member. His speech, which was basically about how success is a journey and not a destination, struck a chord in me the most. I could not help but shed a few tears. The graduates then left the hall in a procession, this time with the precious rewards of all those years of studying and learning clutched in our hands. By then, I was overwhelmed with rapture.



I didn't want to remove my full academic regalia. The gown, trencher and hood were all markers of my new status as a graduate, and I felt so mature and sure of myself when I had them on. I spent a long time after the ceremony taking as many photos with my friends and parents as I could, while I was still able to keep on my full academic regalia . I did crazy and playful poses, looked serious for the more formal shots, tossed my trencher into the air and caught it, and reveled in the festivity and joy of that very special day. All too soon, I had to take off my full academic regalia and return it. For a moment, it seemed like the magic of the day had faded a bit. Then my parents suggested we head to a popular cafe in my favourite suburb for an afternoon tea celebration, a suggestion that was well-received.



As we made our way to the cafe, the words from one my favourite songs, 'We Are Young' by the American band Fun and featuring Janelle Monáe, entered my mind:

"Tonight,
we are young.
So let's set the world on fire,
we can burn brighter
than the sun."

Yes, on my graduation day, a fire was lit in me and I shone brightly from within. I am now on the verge of starting a new chapter in my life, my Honours year, and may those flames of passion, pride and confidence continue to burn fiercely from within and propel me through the rest of my life.