graduation
Graduation is so bittersweet. This year I got a taste of what it might possibly feel like to be graduating. I stayed for senior week, hung out with all my graduating friends and attended convocation. The sense of pure joy of being at the finish line at probably one of the biggest milestones in your life to date is indescribable. Being able to don that gown and cap is just one of the indications that you've completed 4 years of complete hell and heaven. But it also means leaving behind a lot of wonderful memories, and leaving a whole bunch of friends that you've practically spent almost every single day of your college life with.
This year, I've had the great joy of celebrating this momentous event with some of the best friends I've made in the class of 2012. But I know that coming back next semester will never be the same. A big part of my college life for the past 3 years will be gone, off to some bigger place/city, doing things that they've been prepared to do for the past 4 years.
I think that is one of the suckiest things about studying overseas. You meet all these amazing people from all over the world, but at the end of those 4 years, you part and not just in the metaphorical sense. You go back to your own home countries or new countries, you physically part, just when you started really settling in and getting completely comfortable with each other.
But nevertheless, graduation is happy time and should be celebrated as best as possible!
In the words of Doctor Seuss:
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
To some of the best friends I have ever made in my life in the Cornell class of 2012, I love you guys and I am so proud that you survived Cornell :)