Graduation // 2016

Graduation // 2016

• 17 May 2017

This is such a belated post. Almost a year since Gradution.

Nevertheless, am still gonna post my afterthoughts, because it's all worth it if I look back 10 years later.

Graduation, summarised? I'm happy and contented because this is truly a gift from God.

It's not my hard work that got me here. I'm kidding myself if I ever think that way. My own effort contributed 0.01% to this achievement.

For many graduates like myself, circumstances are such that there is a direct correlation between how hard I work and the results I achive. For many more people in Singapore and around the world, this correlation is much weaker or does not exist.

 I have parents who encourage and discipline me to study hard when I was young, so I could start off well. They gave me a comfortable and stable life, so I did not have to worry about anything. I have friends around me who bless me with their friendship and pressure me, unconsciously, to keep up with my studies. I have had a number of teachers who are exceptional in their teaching and inspirational in their care for students. I am born into a country that provides lots of food to keep me going, free flow of drinkable water everywhere I go, great health care, great education, fast transport and not forgetting safety and security. Most importantly, I have my Lord who is always present and never fails me. All these blessings contributed to my graduation far more than my own effort. I never earned or deserved such circumstances, they are wonderful gifts from God.

My graduation is a reminder of how blessed I am, not a declaration of my success. While I am given so much hope for the future, there are many unmet needs out there. If I am truly grateful, I must be a blessing to a needy world.