Graduation Blues...

Dear friends,

Graduation is always a happy occasion for a student. Be it getting your diploma, first degree or postgraduate study. Heck, even kindergarteners get their graduation nowadays.

I got my first taste of the so-called graduation when I finished high school at the MRSM. Of course, there was me sitting in the robe with the whole class getting our name called one by one to the stage to get the transcript or the scroll. Back then we were wearing songkok instead of the mortar board.

Yeah, it was exciting and all, but it doesn't really make me feel like having the proper one you know, since the real ones are always when you graduate from courses you take in the university. You know, like a real sense of accomplishment, before you get off to your career.

I always love watching the Legally Blond because despite of all the blondness (or rather pinkness) of the movie, I find it somehow inspirational, you know, Elle Woods surviving law school and all the stereotypes that comes with her by being true to herself and optimistic towards life. She was the valedictorian.

I watch that everytime I'm feeling down and like graduating is too far from now. I watch that and feel, "Gosh, it's such a nice place to be in! I want to be in that place!..."

I had the opportunity to be in that in recent years when Mom was receiving her PhD at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Then Raja Nazrin Shah of Perak was there to hand out the scrolls. It was magical, exciting and inspiring. The whole family were there including grandma and the relatives. The place was filled with so many positivity that you feel like graduating straightaway.

My graduation is delayed (again) by six months compared to my classmates as I still have many clinical requirements to be completed. Making me the six and a half year dental student here in Kulliyyah of Dentistry, IIUM right now. Presently, I am gathering all the strength & motivation I can get to get this over with.

Sometimes I feel like I'm never going to get off this place.

And I certainly hope that that's not true.

Because my graduation has been 18 months overdue.

Still trying,
Hanih B.