It seems as though many of us are coming to an end with a chapter in our lives; we are closing a chapter only to begin another. It is new and exciting, sometimes frightening and doubtful, but it is, nevertheless, a fresh start of a new era in our lives. We are now making plans; real plans that only some years ago, seemed so far from our grasp. We are going out into the world to make our mark, to finally begin something we have worked so hard for. For some, there will be disappointments, and for others, there will be ambition and enthusiasm. Regardless of what they may encounter, it is an extraordinary shift that will take place within ourselves.

Since preschool, we have worked and learned; we have written countless assignments and studied. Until now, we have been overworked but we were persistent. At times it was painstaking but we endured. All of the hardship that seemed so everlasting was to be at this point we are at right now- To be at this age and have a foundation. It is almost the most critical point in our lives, where we are to lay down a fixed direction in our lives. From this rooted point on, we strive and work toward the destination that we desire next.

So as this chapter in our lives comes to a joyous end, the next chapter unfolds; it is that of the real world’s tribulations, not one of which consists of homework and report cards. What we have benefited from 20 years of schooling will be taken with us forever. The diligence, and perseverance, the stressful life, and the motivation… all the discipline we have come to acquire as students have been embedded deep within us and will be an asset to wherever we may go.