My attempt at the 2009 100+ Reading Challenge starts here.
Fate has brought you to this sketchbook - a slice of life behind the eyes of a seventeen-year-old Filipina residing in sunny England.
If you haven’t already guessed, the word graduation seems pretty alien to British schools - well, just until further education at the most. Here they refer to it as Leavers’ Ceremony (the same way they call prom as Leavers’ Ball). We had ours on Tuesday the 23rd of June and, yay, I have now officially left sixth form college. ^_^
To be honest, ceremonies here in Britain aren’t exactly what I would call tear-jerker-y or memorable. It’s, like, different. Different from the ones we have in the Philippines wherein parents rush in to take pictures of their children and everyone else is in a very chatty mood. In England, everything is just so… proper. The ceremony started and ended on time, there were no technical difficulties whatsoever and everyone was present. You’re not even allowed to take photographs because the presentation was meant to be ’solemn’. No togas or gowns or whatever graduation attire - just come in your usual school uniform. See what I mean about not being memorable?
Having said that, though, I am absolutely a hundred percent thankful that I have come this far. Without sixth form college, I obviously would not have been able to attain my A-levels and other requirements for University. It was two years of good fun and tears. Good fun in the form of friends and teachers. Tears in the form of too much paperwork. No regrets, really. Sixth form stressed me out badly but, still, I do not regret studying here.
As far as having a very ordinary leavers’ presentation, I still have to say that I would miss my time at sixth form and the bonds I have made with my peers. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions - I don’t think I would ever forget that.
Now that I have graduated, or as they say - left sixth form college, I think I’m definitely ready for University now.
Wish me luck :]
