Feature

My Convocation, The Class of 2010

Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

Whenever I used to see the photograph of my brother in the black gown and the tassel hanging, holding his graduation certificate, with a boastful smile and gleaming eyes, I realized what an experience it must have been for him to come to this stage. Graduation is one hurdle of life that we all need to cross at one time, and when you do cross it and look behind, all you see is a journey that has made a place in your heart. My journey at East West University (EWU) started off in the year 2006 when I got admitted in the Department of Pharmacy. Little did I know what was there to come within the next four years ahead, but with optimism and a juvenile spirit I welcomed all the reality checks that life had to offer to me.

University days were the learning curves, where in every turn you came across different characters, understood certain differences, adapt to the difficulty level and met with people whom you will cherish for the rest of your life. I could recall my first day at the university when I had to run for my class as I was late, and with a beating heart and held up breath I entered the class room. To my surprise I was welcomed by a wonderful faculty and I just thought, may be the days to come will not be bad afterall. I made friends and lost a few, got carried away by beautiful smiles and flirty remarks, got in and out of relationships, had few achievements under my hat, cursed few faces who made my life miserable at times and then there were few faculties who had helped me to be a better person through their generous advices. Life at EWU taught me endurance, brought me in close proximity with talented people and I value that. The lectures were well constructed and even though I had a bird brain, I could still use it to bring out the potentials I had. A day then came when I gave my last final examination and was done for good. I was a bit baffled at first as I could not fathom that it truly ended, my days at the university was over. I looked at my friends who almost had the same expression which was so vividly clear and you do feel numb even for a moment, thinking, either being ecstatic or weary about what would happen next.

I always pictured myself in my brother's place and the day finally arrived when I had my convocation ceremony. I, along with my friends walked down the aisle and took our seats at the ceremony hall, while I went on searching for my dearest mom there. I found her, staring at me, a proud stare, a look you will never forget, and you know it is the same with every guardian in that very place, seeing their sons and daughters in that prestigious attire. I have earned it; through my hard work and diligence, through logic and arguments, with the support of my parents and teachers, with friends who pulled me up when I was in pits, with those harsh realities which I thought I would never face, I have crossed the hurdle. When the marshal asked us to turn our tassel from right to left, a chill ran down through my spine, it was the moment, a moment I have been waiting for all my life. The marshal then said “Congratulations, you are now the graduate class of 2010”. There was a huge roar and I was not an exception. I was embraced by my fellow graduates, my friends and with a beaming smile we all shared the moment in a synchronized state of joy. Then there was the certificate presentation session and we all had our turns to enjoy it. The photo shoots lasted for more than an hour and regardless of the envy and the love, we were all united to celebrate the day. The Graduates' Night that followed in the evening was of glamour and style where we the graduates were all prim and proper and with nice music and good food, it was a place worth being. While I was driving on my way back home, I was having mixed emotions altogether and I knew all good things do come to an end. I was a graduate who was bringing back home some bittersweet memories of four years.