The air was filled with excitement and hopes for the future, of sadness regarding separations and anxiety of what tomorrow might bring.
I've sat on several graduations, almost 20 rites, mine included. Every graduation rites came with graduation speeches from various guest speakers. I have listened to everyone of them, but sadly, I don't remember anything in particular, they sounded all the same to me. Maybe graduation speeches were delivered to sedate students before they are let loose into the chaotic professional world.
I don't remember much from those speeches. I just vaguely recall they were flooded and "tsunami-ed" with so much words for hopes and dreams and "individuality" despite everyone being dressed up alike in caps and gowns. They keep on saying education is the key to success. They have to say it to keep us in school until you reach college or university. They have to persuade us to be in school to keep the unemployment rate down. Obviously, we won't find a decent job anywhere as a teenager. Finding a suitable job with a college/uni degree is tough; finding a job as a teener is tougher.
Graduation at any level is officially saying, "Welcome to the unemployed world."
At the end of every speech, they "God bless everyone", or "May your future be bright as your dreams". True enough, they have to "Godspeed" because the best things happen only to some and not to everyone. For every opportunity is unique and has to be identified. As a graduate, you uttered a simple prayer, " I hope it will be the best indeed".
Then reunions will come. Are you attending, or not attending?
You will attend because you are a winner. Maybe brag about it? Brag a bit or brag big. It doesn't matter, it is likely and probable, that you are attending to size up yourself with your previous peers; size up physically and professionally. (Hey, you've grown--wider).
Not attending? Thinking that it will be shameful to be branded or classified as a loser. You've realised that your goal was not achieved the way it was printed in the yearbook, "I want to be a computer programmer."
DO NOT FALL FOR THIS OUTRIGHT FAILURE!
That is the failure which is not really yours but the judgement of other people. People are poor judges of success and failure. Your heart knows what you have achieved. Don't judge each day by the quantity of harvest you've reaped but by the seeds you have planted. For whatever you sow, you shall reap.
"The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” ~ Benjamin Mays
