They say graduation is one of the big achievements you will have in life. They say the ceremony is a celebration of your efforts. They say photos are necessary to commemorate the occasion. They say, a lot of things.

On the night before my graduation ceremony, I sat on my bed and listened to a football podcast (shoutout to the arseblog!). Having been exhausted from my weekend shenanigans, I slept without much effort. The next morning, I woke up and it felt like any other day. After all, I already knew I graduated. In my mind, the ceremony is just a glorified occasion designed to scheme one’s money. I recognised the importance of the graduation ceremony but at the same time, I didn’t.

I showered and put on a white shirt with black fluff on it. That’s how nonchalant I am that I didn’t check to see that I had a completely spotless white shirt (either that or I’m just plain lazy, I think it’s really cause I’m lazy). I put on my red tie and for a moment, for just one, I remembered the first time I put on one. I was a prefect in primary school and my sister’s friend whom was left-handed taught me and hence, I’ve tied it left handed since.

I was feeling anxious not because of the day itself but because I was afraid I was going to be late to take photos with my friends since I promised to be there by 12:30. I took official photos with my family and personal photos with each friend that came. Then, I went into the ceremony, received my cert from the Dean, tipped my hat (albeit a bit early as I stuffed up my timing) and sat down. Four years had come to this very moment. It’s done. Finally, it’s done.

Again, I was wrong.

I exited the ceremony and took more photos. One after the other, I kept taking them. Then my sister goes up to me and say, “Hey, you haven’t taken an individual photo with each one in the family yet,” to which replied hastily, “I thought we had several family shots already, we don’t need individual ones.” Later on, Father Peter whom I’m close with asked me, “Did you cry? I would have thought you would,” So did I as well. I was slightly surprised I didn’t.

I didn’t want to hold up any flowers or my certificate during this whole process. It felt almost like I was showing off and that I’m hoarding for attention if I did that. Little did I realise by doing that, I was actually not allowing people around me to partake in the occasion completely. Ultimately, I didn’t allow myself to do so.

Later on, I took a photo with my mum. As I took it, my dad said to the others, “She’s responsible for everything. She would scold him when he’s not doing his work. She would make sure that he studies. She did all of it.” He was right.

As the afternoon light die down, I said to my family, “Let’s all take a photo one by one,” I held my Bachelors certificate in my hand and faced the camera. One by one came up to me. I couldn’t help it but broke down.

It finally dawned on me.

I was so busy all day that I haven’t had a chance to pause. I never stopped to realise that this is an achievement. This is one that was not only made possible by me but by my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, my aunty, my friends and most importantly God. I have much to be grateful for, from the days of learning to put on a tie till now.

Just because so many people pass through this milestone, it does not make it any less of one. It’s even more significantly so when you’re the one that’s celebrating it.

Ceremonies and receptions have always been a human tradition to signify the end but also the beginning. We don’t absorb the full scale of what we achieved, what we have been through and what the future brings in an instant but rather over its entirety. This is brought to fruition with the culmination of the occasion.

They say graduation is one of the big achievements you will have in life. They say the ceremony is a celebration of your efforts. They say photos are necessary to commemorate the occasion. They say, a lot of things. They are all true. It is the end but also the beginning of a new chapter in life. Take it in. You deserve it.