Graduation: Reminiscing the Past

Graduation is a time to close a chapter of someone's school life, and a time to move forward. It is also a time to thank the people whom had the big part of his/her journey. A time when you feel the happiness and excitement, sadness and sorrow.

I've always been emotional every time graduation month comes. For me, the college graduation was the most memorable  and unforgettable one. I remember  during that time, I promised myself not to cry but it never happened. I didn't even noticed that I'm crying at the end of the ceremony. That time brought back the memories, the struggles and hardships I had encountered of being a working student, the nearly giving up, the sleepless nights, the tears, the happiness, the late night review, the friendship of my co-working student classmates, the love and support of Nana Tiying whose always been proud of me, and the triumph. That college graduation started my new life, motivated me to move forward and face the new chapter of my life. I never stopped walking on my journey since then, until I found what God intended for me. Now I'm a successful teacher. I'm so blessed, I know.

Today, as I watched the news on TV, I was inspired by the story of Sarah Tanduyan of Tiaong, Quezon. She is a daughter of a junk collector, whose been struggling hard to provide the needs of her daughter's schooling. This Friday she will be graduating Magna Cum Laude with the course of Business Administration at Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo. According to her “Parang dine-degrade po ang tatay ko dahil po ganoon lang po ang hanapbuhay niya so nagtiyaga po ako para po at least dumating ang time na maiahon ko po sila sa kahirapan,” I was really teary-eyed by her story...It is similar to the story I posted here Poverty is not a Hindrance to One's Success, about Gabriel Pelias. Those stories brought me tears because it's close to my own story.

As I watched graduation ceremonies every year, I can't help but to look back...to remember the sad and happy memories of my life. I just wish every student will be inspired by our stories, that there is no impossible dream if you just believe.

Graduation is an important part of our lives, it's not the end, it's just a start of a new journey.