Graduation: Farewell for a new beginning

The days of fervour that seemed to last forever have come to an end.

It is really an extremely sentimental moment to see youngsters bidding farewell to their comrades, with sopping faces. Shivering hands rising to say good bye! Words uttered from stammering tongues!

Life on campus is probably the most carefree time ever, in a single class, and among close friends.

In the very first class of a newly admitted batch meet students from diverse backgrounds and with different personalities. Initially, people in the same class feel somewhat nervous around one another; unaware of the habits, likes, dislikes and attributes of others. Some may not behave well with others while some take time to get to know others. Interesting and silly scenes are the highlight of early days on campus. The outlook of others plays a decisive role in forming judgements. There are some students for whom asking too many questions (usually silly ones) and adding extra information to the lecture will put them in the good books of the teacher and other fellows will be impressed by their ‘smartness’.

But as time passes, strangers become acquainted with each other to an extent that they become as close and friendly as a family; they create their own identity as a single class and become united, their voices become the representation of all others, they care for and love each other; they feel proud when they see the success and achievements of others, share the pleasures and sorrows of one another and they are actually bound with stitches of love, affection, sacrifice and friendship!

During their stay on campus, students of the same class enjoy different moments of life; sometimes they experience happiness, adventure, innovation and sometimes they go through difficult times. When they work in groups, it brings class fellows even closer. They enjoy working on projects, sometimes being under-pressure to meet deadlines. Some group members behave like sleeping partners; those who are more active and dedicated are supposed to be the group leaders and all the burden is quite conveniently placed on their shoulders. As they say, with great power comes great responsibility.

Most of the time, friends spend their free time in the canteen. They rarely enter the library, but they do read one ‘book’, of course, ‘Facebook’! Whether they are in the lawn, the library, the computer lab or anywhere on earth, their eyes are fixed on this book. This is the medium they use to communicate even with those friends and class fellows who are right there sitting on the next seat!

When in class, there is always a different situation; sometimes, when the teacher is strict, students behave like innocent and obedient kids, giving the teacher their full attention. But when it gets too much, most of them, especially the back-benchers, wander in the valley of daydreaming. Some place their heads on their desks in an attempt to avoid the boring points of the lecture by taking a little nap, while others keep themselves busy by scribbling, making sketches of teachers, writing poetry, passing papers etc.

Then comes the season of exams. Even this part of college life is worth enjoying! This is the time when the ones who spent their entire study time doing other activities, look for the last resort — books! By the last week, they burn the midnight oil, and on the day of the exam, there is an environment of panic and frustration till the final bell to start the paper, rings. They create a buzz in the exam hall by asking and telling one another important points. Their faces are worth observing as soon as the question paper lands on their tables. The situation becomes reverse — a pin drop silence. But even this stage of college life is spent with a bit of happiness and a bit of sorrow. Then comes result day, where everyone is in high spirits celebrating both success and failure.

It seems that life on campus passes so fast that it withers away in the blink of an eye and all of a sudden comes the day when we have to  say good bye to college life. This is it! The moment has arrived to bid farewell: to our close friends, to places and spots that behold our secrets and were witness to happiness and sorrow. It’s the time to depart from academic life and enter into the real world.

At this point in life, friends may move in their own directions, to pursue different careers, they may say good bye to one another but they all wish to meet again, somewhere in the world! The moments spent together remain in the minds and hearts of all friends, like a story, written with a golden pen!



Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.