Graduation 2023 (PCU-Junior High School)

The Graduation of  2023 is a mixed feeling. We are going to move on to a new part of our life to be prepared for this bitter-sweet farewell and the future that lies ahead. As you can imagine, as we sat together wearing our graduation robes, we felt bittersweet.

 It was a milestone in many ways; not only was it the culmination of my four years of toil, but a moment to toast friendship, fortitude and development, each of us hovering on the brink of a bittersweet mix of celebration and solemn goodbyes. And then, blending in were cheers, toasts and speeches; a sentiment that this meeting came to symbolize - the impending dispersal of this group, all of whom, during their time together, had amassed a treasure trove of precious experiences and memories.

I pondered over this while we settled into our seats for the ceremony — thinking back over the long, indirect road that brought us to this meaningful, last fiery stop of our adolescence. 

As I did, so many possibilities for what came next occupied my mind — our respective visions of what we needed to do and where we wanted to go: all these dreams and plans, justly puffing up these seniors as we launched into the next season of our lives. 

And who can say? Maybe one day they’ll be awarded a diploma, and have something to take pride in. But I was already proud. And I was proud a lot — of my classmates, all of whom would likely go on to do incredible things with themselves.

 We’d endured the true testing of friendships. We took on teenage hood, fogginess and all, and as we do, overcoming and growing from doubt and uncertainty.

Because our graduation was not only about our great marks and college admissions, but also about proving the world that the fighting spirit we had within was insurmountable… I looked around the crowd and couldn’t help but feel thankful to be part of something bigger: thankful for the friendships we had formed, for the lessons we had learned and for the moments we had lived, every laugh, shed tear and satisfied smile etched into our group’s collective heart. 

As I contemplated Senior High School its difficulties and possibilities before us – I felt a new infusion of ‘We can do it!’ after all we have been through, we can get through whatever we are about to face.