School reopens tomorrow! I would figure this symbolizes
nightmare for most students in the entire country, and very understandably so.
After all, what have we been doing since the end of our
last school year? Hanging out with friends, going on vacations, pursuing our interests
and hobbies…or if you were lazy, just chillin’ at home (and screwing up your
sleeping schedule entirely). And now, to think that the end is nigh, and that tomorrow
you will be heading back to school to continue your year-long affair with homework,
assignments, teachers, examinations and what not?
Let it out, buddy. I feel you. Let it ALL out.
Like many of you, my fellow juniors, I have been keeping
myself quite busy since graduation and the end of examinations last year. I
enjoyed my holidays thoroughly, but like tomorrow, all that will have to take
the back seat for quite a while, as I, like you, bid farewell to my holidays.
Nope, not going to school. I’m officially starting work
tomorrow as an assistant tutor at a daycare centre.
And if you’re wondering how I’m feeling about it, well, ‘terrified’
would be an understatement. (I’ve been told by my teacher to imagine myself in
a psychiatric centre.) But I digress…
For many years now, I’ve loathed the idea of heading back
to school myself. Getting to see your schoolmates after so long was a pleasant
prospect, but school nonetheless was still a wet blanket. Now that I’ve
graduated (again…this time for good) though, that wouldn’t be a worry for me
anymore.
Do I miss school? Honestly, not really. I don’t miss
having need to force myself to sleep and wake up at 5.30a.m. to get ready to
catch the school bus. I don’t miss the heaps of homework and assignments high
school students need to deal with consistently. I don’t miss teachers that not
only do not inspire me, but make it a point to be on every student’s “most hated”
list. I don’t miss going to school and studying about subjects that serve no
purpose (*cough* moral *cough* education *cough*) and things I have zero
interest in. I don’t miss students that are obnoxious, childish, lack substance
and seem to enjoy staying that way. I don’t miss preparing and sitting for
examinations (or at least, examinations that I know I won’t excel in). Plus a
whole lot of other things…
I’ll tell you what I do miss though. I miss genuine
friends who are genuine human beings that I genuinely care for. I miss conversing
with them about almost everything, from silly happenings and interests to our
goals and aspirations. I miss doing impressions of several teachers with a few
buddies, much to the amusement of our ‘audience’. I miss being under the tutelage
of teachers who not only teach, but also educate and inspire. I miss letting
words and phrases flow freely in the form of an essay and having them graded by
my teachers to see how I can improve. I miss having the platform to express
myself through poetry, debates, public speaking and presentations. I miss the
intense preparations with my teammates before competitions. I miss reaping the sweet,
succulent fruits of success with them at the end, and realizing that we’ve created
memories and forged friendships that we would cherish dearly for the rest of
our lives. I miss being appointed to host several major school events and
ceremonies. I miss working intensely on projects that I was a part of with my
fellow schoolmates and having a blast while keeping busy. I miss venturing into
opportunities my school bestowed upon me that have allowed me to expand my
horizons. Most of all, I miss JUST being a student and not having need to worry
about so much in life.
Very few would proudly proclaim their affinity to schools
in this day and age. And that’s perfectly fine. While the prospect of ‘school’
alone may turn more than a few stomachs foul, it’s the moments and experiences
in school that truly define the memorable school lives of so many adults. These
memories leave them longing to travel back in time just to relive those
experiences once more. I for one know that everything I went through in school,
primary or secondary, have shaped me into the person I am today. And if
anything, I am eternally grateful for that.
So I sincerely hope you bear this in mind as you head
back to school in the morning: many exciting (or terrifying, depending on how
you see things) experiences await you in this brand new school year. Welcome
them with open arms. Embrace them. Enjoy them. Be active. Dare to make mistakes
and learn from them. Before you know it, 2016 will fly past you in a blink of
an eye. And you’ll find yourself wanting to relive all your memorable moments
in school as you inch closer and closer to graduation.
Happy first day (and many days ahead) of schooling! In
the words of Taylor Swift, “take a deep breath as you walk through the doors”.
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