Gosh Dang, Yichang!: First Graduation as a Teacher

I was told about a month and a half ago that my seniors would be graduating sometime in May and that there would be some kind of small celebration. What I didn't know is that I would be informed of this celebration 10 minutes before it happened, along with the news that I would be giving a small speech. NBD. But truthfully, the speech wasn't bad, I just shared exactly what I was thinking that day, and that was how incredibly proud I am of this group of students for having survived the Chinese school system. They are all going to be departing for their respective universities at the end of this coming summer, some of them headed to Australia, others to the States. I am sad that I don't get to teach them for this last month, but more than that I am grateful for the relief they must be feeling after 14 years of trudging through school, withstanding enormous amounts of pressure from teachers and parents alike. Now that they are all ready to go for uni next year I truly hope they are able to enjoy this summer and relax a little bit. As for their futures, my greatest wish for them is that living abroad will be a truly memorable experience for them and that they face it with bravery and an open mind. And whatever perspective they gain from their experiences, I hope they take it with them when (if) they come back to China.

Tilda (left) wants to be a film director and is going to a school for the arts in the UK next year. Seking (right) wants to work in finance and will be at the University of New South Wales in Kensington Australia