Roughly two weeks ago I got my Master’s degree in Computer Science. Following a week from that was my graduation ceremony, and it was one of those days I’ll remember for the rest of my life.. I had invited a handful of people that I consider to be really close friends and some I have to privilege to call family.
The ceremony and the dinner following the ceremony was very overwhelming for me. At every big moments of my life, I’ve never felt anything in the moment but I’ve always been overwhelmed few days later. That overwhelming feeling reminded me of how I felt when I first moved abroad for my Master’s. For example, you always hear this from international students that they are scared, confused and anxious before leaving their homes and moving abroad from their Master’s. That was not the case for me, I was very zealous before leaving on this exciting new chapter of my life. It was like a three days after I landed, that I was hit with this feeling of ‘ Oh, this shit just got real’. It was not a two week vacation but in fact, I was alone trying to fit in this new country and embracing it’s new culture and traditions.
The same was the case for my graduation. I had been looking forward to it for months—not just the ceremony, but the chance to leave Worcester and move on to new, exciting things.
When the day of the ceremony arrived, I didn’t feel much. Not when I finished the last day of school, not even when I was on stage. But it all hit me later, at dinner, when I was surrounded by the people who showed up for me that day.
Seeing how genuinely excited and happy they were for me—that was the real achievement of the day.
A few of them went out of their way just to be there, and that’s something I’m never going to forget. One friend volunteered at the event just so she could be there and cheer me on. Another drove 90 minutes each way to make it to the dinner.
I cannot forget my sister who took a flight from Alabama during her school and made sure to be there for my big day. I cannot thank enough the MVPs of this whole journey, mom and dad, I could never I done this without you. Thank you for always having my back! It’s real unfortunate you couldn’t be there in person for your boy’s big day.
Having what feels like a second set of parents in a foreign land is a blessing I never expected. I won’t name names, but to both of you: thank you. Thank you for being there on one of the biggest days of my life, for the thoughtful gift, and for all the love and support you've given me over the past year.
I owe you guys big time and I genuinely hope I get the chance to repay your kindness in this lifetime.
During the dinner, I realized that ‘Yeah, this is it.’ This is the end of my role as an academic student. The last two years have definitely been a roller coaster- fun, challenging and full of growth. Even though this marks as an ending of a chapter, it is also marks as a beginning of something new. While I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I’m excited to see what lies ahead.
If there’s anything I would want you to take from this, it would be: no milestone really matters if you don’t have someone to share it with.
Thank you for reading.