Intersection 14

When I meet my university as a graduate…

After more than 5 months, I entered my university for the first time. The school was celebrating it’s Foundation Day, and I wanted to be involved in a special day which I somehow did not pay much attention to when I was still a student. I was very excited to see the place who took care of me for 4 years, but I was also shielded by a layer of panic and nervousness. I wonder how the place has changed, and if it will give me a feeling of awkwardness.

Getting past the gates and being immersed in the campus atmosphere proved to have an unsettling feeling. But this unsettling feeling leaned towards positive regard. The environment was similar, yet there were hints of change - new faces, new fashion statements, new topics and conversations - all boiled into one ball of nostalgic sense.

Walking on familiar ground made me feel a certain level of safety, a feeling that things will point to an outcome. Memories battled with one another as I watched how the students walked, talked and go on with university life. It was interesting to view the university from an outsider -an alumni’s - perspective. I suddenly remembered how I viewed outsiders back then. I somehow felt jealous about them not being stressed with piles of homework and projects, with examinations and activities.

But thinking about my jealousy in the past made me smile. Life after school is certainly not something to be engaged in with egoistic rush and tower-like confidence. The difficulty of life after school is most of the time incomparable to the moments when we felt like giving up because of requirements. Accomplishing goals after school is an everyday process. We can put deadlines, but the process is harsher. Sacrifices can be greater, and more painful.

After a few hours of roaming the campus, I left the school with some of my curiosities answered and also with more questions. These questions will constantly challenge me to make me into a better person than the student version of myself. These questions will encourage me to have the same determination I had when I was a student. Things can never always be in my favor, but I have a place I can visit to remind me of the problems in the past I thought were already difficult. And I am very grateful I have the chances I have now.

I hope you get to visit your Alma Mater.

Until the next visit,

Myra

(Credits to propofs.com for the photo)