May 2017
This is the season of
secondary school graduation ceremonies. One of the schools I work for held it
last Thursday. It was the most touching ceremony I have ever attended. Having
served the education sector for decades, I have attended tens of such
ceremonies. There would be always be the
school report by the principal or supervisor or both, speeches by the guest of
honour and the student representative followed by certificate and prize
presentations. Sometimes, there would be student performance.
Teachers and students
spend an enormous amount of time and effort to make sure that the ceremony
would run smoothly so as to impress the guests but more importantly to create indelible
memories for graduates and their parents. Ceremonies can last 2 if not 3 hours
and when they come to a close; teachers are relieved while graduates are
exhilarated. As to the other guests if they do stay until the end, they must be
great friends of the school board, supervisor or principal. Others may have
long left.
But this ceremony was
not the same. After the routine items came the part of the class teachers
presenting their parting words to the graduating classes. One teacher recalled how her class took care
of her when she was not well and how she would be forever grateful. She then
sang a song encouraging her students not to fear but be brave in face of life’s
challenges. She was all tears while her students cheered her on.
Then another class
teacher came up to the stage. He recounted how he and his class practised so
hard for the choral speaking and finally they worked miracle - champion of the
category beating top schools. He encouraged students to carry forward such headstrong
spirit. His class applauded.
I was among the
audience. As I listened, images of what these students had experienced kept popping up in my
mind bringing
tears of appreciation to my eyes.
