A Sense of Achievement

One of the things that I have to drag myself to do in my capacity as the head of faculty is to attend the annual graduation ceremony.  Sitting on the stage, facing the hundreds of graduands and their families, while wearing layers of thick clothing (in addition to the usual shirt, suit and tie, there is the long and baggy ceremonial academic gown) is definitely not my idea of a good time.

Last year's graduation ceremony took place not very long after I came into office, hence i was reading out names of graduands who I do not know, as they have all completed their studies before (or around the time of) my joining the college.  Frankly, I felt extremely awkward and out of place at last year's ceremony.  Students were all looking for the various lecturers and faculty heads to take photographs with, but I was pretty much ignored.  Can't say I blame them, after all, I had no part to play in their studies.  I did try my best to engage the parents of the graduands of my faculty, but having not known their kids personally, my attempts at conversation were lame and pathetic to say the very least.

This year's graduation ceremony was held yesterday.  It was the same ritual, layered in thick clothing (hotter than last year as I was wearing a new and thick blazer - what was I thinking?) I was extremely not looking forward to the ceremony when I first arrive at the ceremony hall two hours before the start of event.  So, I set out to expect another awkward afternoon, as those who know could testify, I am miserable in trying to have a good time.

Yet, when the graduands of my faculty began to show up, I find myself getting excited.  I fussed over them, I adjusted their graduation gowns (they were really clueless on how to dress properly, gowns and sashes were dropping everywhere, and mortalboards were tilting in every direction except the right direction), I took their photos, they took my photos, and I fussed over them and adjusted their gowns some more.

As I stood on the stage, reading out the name of each of my graduands, I can't help but look up at them and (actually) smile (something that I almost never do).  I can't help but feeling a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment, to know that each of them were leaving with a little piece of me in them.  The fact that I had a part to play in them reaching the point in life that they are at, it was indeed a wonderfully uplifting experience.  For that few moments, as I smile at them and they smiled back; the hours of screaming at them back in class, the agony of dealing with their behaviours and the frustrations given to me by them, all felt worth it.  For a few moments, I realised that what I am doing at where I am actually is worth something.

The graduands from the A Levels (pre-law) programme.  Most of them are now students in my first year degree class. 

To add icing to the cake, one of the A Levels graduands of that day is also one of my Timothy, and not having his family around (he is from out of town), I was really glad to be able to be there with him; not just as his lecturer and faculty head, but also as his big brother; sharing his achievement, sharing his joy and sharing my clothes (he was wearing my other blazer and tie!).

Jeremy Oliver and I - student and lecturer, graduand and academic head, younger brother and elder ('older' is such a mean word) brother.