Graduation: In Less Than a Day

I'm graduating.

Tomorrow's probably going to be a HUGE day for all of us.

I am happy and content. My mom (as well as my cousin's) came home last week for our graduation ceremonies.

Within these past days, I have been going around the campus to have my clearance signed. And before it all came down to this, I lost A LOT of money, and they all ended up being in the cozy bosom of the school cashier.

For four academic years with eight semesters made up of 24 grading periods, I've striven, struggled, hungered, scorched, thirsted, had typhoid, triumphed, lost, laughed, cried, flew, fell, been through heaven and hell. And that's not an overstatement.

I once mused and thought that in college, I have experienced both heaven and hell.

My course was Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. I guess I just obtained a bachelor's degree, then. In my subconscious, this fact gives me the imperative to be an adult: an independent, working, self-supporting adult. That's quite a pressure. While on the other hand, I have a sense of relief and security that I would be able to support myself towards the future. I am this little fledgling flying into the unknown, but nevertheless on his own.

From now, I do not know what to expect, but I'm coming to know what I want - something I hardly ever was able to do.

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I'm not getting any honors tomorrow. Since I was at a young age, I have always been an achiever in school. It's like being at the top of the class is something I owe myself.

It hurts, to be honest. Even though I was glad to find out that if it weren't for that single matter that caused my disqualification, I'd graduate as summa cum laude. I acknowledge my shortcomings and negligence during my complacent, irresponsible first year in college when I rarely attended the ROTC (reserved officer training course), the one and only subject I failed and that cause my disqualification.

STILL, as a friend puts it, I'm a "young professional" now. I will take no delight in looking back on the great disappointments of my life.

Sometimes it's better not to look back at anything at all.


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At the end of it all, I want to emerge a victor: a conqueror. And I will. To think, the mere fact of graduating from a course in college is a big achievement in itself. Besides, though not easy, it's possible to focus on the perks within and/or despite my misfortunes.

The wait is over and I have come to the beginning, at last.