What is it on the real stage?
"Ma'am can we borrow a toga? We'll wear it, as if to come up the stage and receive our diploma. Probably our boarding house would be the best place for it!"
It was days before the Graduation Rites. I saw two of my students who hadn't graduated this school year despondently sitting at the edge of the corridor. Sadly, they pleaded those words to me. Hearing them indeed, broke my heart. How I wish at that very instance, I have all the rights and privileges to help them to graduate. But all I have were the encouraging words to share. Telling them, "Even if you cannot attend the graduation and be there to receive your diploma, by the time you completed all your requirements you would still be considered graduates. So get up and get your toga!"
Out of the ten students, only two of whom have graduated because only them have completely passed all the requirements for graduation. At that time I would ask my self, why did it happened? Have I not guided them accordingly? Well, perhaps I have too my shortcomings as an adviser but the bottom of it all was they were financially unstable. How I wish I am the richest person in the world. That every time my students would tell me that they cannot get the exam because they cannot pay their dues, I can help them. But being a teacher here in this institution is like a surviving specie in this world.
Way back then, there was a time while having a small chat with my students, one of them mentioned. "Why is it that we who are striving to finish our studies don't have enough. However, those who took for granted their studies have too much!" (Yeah, life could be so unfair most of the time). Yet truth is, sucess always come from great sacrifices.
Nonetheless, how much sacrifices these students have to bear? Indeed, a lot!
One of these students certainly, suffered and still enduring life's sacrifices and trials. At first, he was being supported by his sister because his parents were separated and his mother is very ill because of cancer. By the start of the 2nd semester last year his mother died. While on his recovery to that painful grievances, few months after he received the news that his father also passed away.
Life indeed, life is so cruel. Eventhough life happened that way to him, he never showed any weakness.He courageously face his battle. And with it, he showed inspiration to his fellow students.
Probably, as the graduation day came he was thinking, "What is it really on the real stage? What would I feel if I am there receiving my diploma? For sure my parents would be happy and proud seeing me there!
Indeed, how fulfilling it is to feel that somehow another stage of life has been greatly surpassed.
Hence, for many financially unlucky and somehow unfortunate students this is a long way to look forward to.
Another school year is here again. Students experiences are yet to be seen and heard. How I wish this year would be a fruitful and happy one. I hope that students now would see the real essence of education and be inspired to grab every opportunity it brings because not every one is blessed to have it.
Finally, in educating ourselves we would learn a lot. Not only mentally but emotionally, spritually, socially or we may say, all the aspects of our life.
The learnings and all the experiences that we acquired will hone us to be what we really wanted in the future. And eventually will help us give our best performance in the real stage of life.
