GRADUATING IN THE OLD-NORM

It has been two years without the OLD-NORM GRADUATION in Malaysia. 

This is so sad for the graduating batches of 2020 and 2021.

 The grand culmination of their blood (for Medical and Biomed students), sweat and literally tears had been snatched away by the coronavirus pandemic. What did they have to settle for? 

Graduation via zoom wearing shorts and a nice top!

 Here are my students minutes 

before their final examinations 

and their graduation, pre-pandemic.

Hand phones left on invigilators' table.

As the clock struck 9, 

their three-hour papers began.

My students eventually get to the finish line. Some maybe a semester or two later, but they do finish their marathon! 

A highlight for parents to witness their "rascals" on the thresh hold of their careers.

 One wanted to be a Formula One race driver and I hope he made it. Others became lecturers, scientists, doctors, air steward, singers, insurance copy writers, fashion writer (my Honours male student), marketing executives, entrepreneurs and a host of other fantastic careers. 

These "kids" taught me that an Honours Degree in Biomedical Science did not limit their career options!

GRADUATION - tis' the only time in his life a REAL MAN gets to proudly carry his flowers and soft toys.

For FOUR years, I saw my boys and girls in their jeans and T-shirts. I have often wondered if they sometimes attended my 8am class in their pyjamas.  

But, overnight like caterpillars turning into butterflies, my BOYS in their suits and neckties morphed into remarkable handsome MEN 

and my GIRLS into beautiful young LADIES. 

I felt like another proud "parent."

GRADUATION DAY

These cute floral (soft animal?) arrangements are popular gifts on graduation days. In the past, graduation bears wearing motar boards were the in-thing, but as MartianGirl says, "they are so last season." These squirrels with their large eyes and wide smiles are pretty irresitible with the lovely packaging.

These girls are of Malay ethnic origin and the graduates usually wear head scarfs that colour coordinate with the colour on their graduation gowns. The colours differ from one faculty to another and on any one graduation ceremony, there will be greens, blues, mauve and silvers moving around.
Graduation week takes on a fun fair and carnival atmosphere with many stalls that "mushroom" overnight to sell food, drinks, trinklets and flowers.

Mini or Mickey in grauation outfit?? I can't figure out the gender.

The undergraduates set up stalls and the profits support their activities on Campus. The University does give out grants for various student activities, but the extra money means the Societies can have more projects throughout the semesters.

GRADUATION CHEERS AND TEARS

The sweetest time of a student's life - the end of 4 years of blood, sweat and tears. Blood? YES, when you are in a science degree and taking your own blood to be used as a normal control is part of the curriculum. August to October is covocation time over here. After 4 years of seeing the students in T-shirts, jeans and very often I have wondered if they wore their pyjamas to lectures, it is really fantastic to see them all dressed up.

It is amazing to see the guys in, not only neck ties and collars, but in full suits. They are quite unrecognisable when they get all spruced up and then you think, "OK, they are ready to handle the real world." It is a joyous occassion for them but graduation is always sad for me. It's like your own kids leaving home - after 4 years of nagging and drilling them everyday for their examinations and dissertations, and sometimes wishing they will disappear from your room forever. Graduation reminds you they are really leaving forever.

I always feel guilty on this day for having been impatient when they did not understand their work or for getting angry when their assignments were late. On this day, as I watch their smiles, I am reminded that actually my students have taught me more than what I have taught them. I may have taught them facts and figures, but they have taught me about life and living life differently.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK