Commencement 2005

We were kids once more...

The high-pitched squeals
The excited chatter
The warm hugs
The wacky poses
The lines that were impossible to form and keep straight

On this big day,
That marks the end of a chapter and the beginning of another.

As frens spewed many a congratulatory smses
And fellow classmates helped fuss over the motarboard to sit it firmly on the head
As Mum affectionately chided, for cutting the hair soo short
Ah, the tables have turned...from those days I launched cold wars and sulked for days as protest for having the hair snipped too short
And Dad, always wanting to cut a stern figure, attempts an admonishment- on responsibility and punctuality- one tt's well-deserved, for pulling off an SMU-characteristic last minute rush and arriving later than the guests did.

For the poses struck and the camera flashes all round...

The manual camera has been replaced with the digital camera
The braces have given way to neat, pearlie white teeth
The bushy eyebrows plucked and shaped to perfect arcs
Only those eyebags betrayed the age

In that Kodak moment,

The differences in opinions were put aside
Th unhappiness was forgotten
The carelessness was condoned
The lateness was forgiven
As all participate in easy banter and mock jibes
In the celebratory air of the joyous occassion
In the trust and familiarity that's been built up over the 4 years


Tomorrow...

The big bad working world beckons
With deadlines, quotas and expectations
Of responsible adults and diligent workers
Of delivering profits and generating wealth
A dose of wariness once more
A tad of diplomacy put up
As the assimilation into the a new environment starts
For the cut-throat climb up the corporate ladder

May I remember and act upon,
The simple but precious message during kindergarten graduation
That I was reminded of during service again
To trust and obey in Him
For He will never fail me