Thoughts on Graduation

[Most of this post was deleted because it sounded like a whole, awful humblebrag]

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” -Philippians 3:13-14

I always thought I’d never get so sentimental for college graduation. In previous graduations, while everyone was crying with goodbyes, I was the one who wanted to get out of the place fast. In university, I always thought that I was not really in school, only staying in the library, the classrooms, and the dining hall where I usually eat lunch. Before, I thought that it is just like any other day, an expected culmination and just another ceremony... until the day itself. It was a day marking the end of almost 18 years of life in school. Graduation was last Sunday, April 13, 2014. Even if it took long, I listened to every speech and tried to clap for all the graduating classes and I felt happy for everyone.

Things that I do daily, the mundane and the boring, I remember in luminous detail. In school, everyday seems to be the same: studying for quizzes and exams, preparing for reports, typing requirements, eating and talking with friends, organizing activities. But those are the little things I’ll miss... Things like: Looking for empty, quiet classrooms to study in. Funny moments in working in the library. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different.”

Of course, right now I feel indebted to my family who puts up with my bad attitude sometimes, all the teachers in all the schools I’ve ever been (I learned something from every teacher who taught me, even in classes I’ve failed, since kindergarten). I also would not get this if not for the supportive teachers and librarians of the university, and my friends... I found the best friends I’ve ever had in the CPU Library.

Also, I have to mention that I’m impressed with the yearbook team. Their distribution was organized and Centralite 2014 is great! It is a heavy book, considering that there are more than a thousand graduates. It comes with a blue box and a Centralite magazine with the highlights of the school year. Insigne is Latin for 'medallion', and the each cover has an embedded medal. As the preface of the yearbook says, "Graduation is not just a tribute to those who are graduating with flying colors. This should have an essence of giving tribute to everyone, who despite hardships, was able to be graduate."

My only complaint is my badly-edited yearbook entry. I hope it doesn't sound bad. 

Okay, but what after? There's still a librarian's board exam to prepare for in 2015. I plan to still be in school for further studies. I hope to work in a great library. I'm even thinking that I want to be an LIS teacher. I still want to write.