When I put down the pencil at the end of the last exam, something suddenly sank in. I thought to myself "this is it"? Of course, one can say that the graduation ceremony marks the end of a student's days at a school (as a student), but I believe a person cease to be student of a school when the student completes all the exit/graduation requirements.
It is hard to believe that I have been a "student" for 21 years — 3 years of kindergarden (in Hong Kong in the 1980's, kindergarden lasts 3 years), 12 years of grade school, and 6 years of university education (even though I still have some trouble believing that I now have 2 degree designations next to my name).
Now that I have completed all the degree requirements, I have now officially joined the Between Job Army. This has given me some time to think about what have I done/experienced/endured in the past 21 years and count my burden/happiness (can anyone tell me how to measure happiness?) from that time. I came up with a few figures concerning what I went through in those years, then I thought "would anyone actually care about a by-the-numbers look at someone else's academic career"? Not likely, unless the someone else is very prominent in the acadmeic world. So instead, I decided to use a "more creative" way to describe what I had experienced as a swimmer in the sea of learning.
Clearly, my formal education lasted more than 12 years, but I don't want to extend the song for the sake of getting to 18 or 21 lines. Besides, the original song only goes 12 lines (if you want to call me lazy, go ahead).
In the first year of schooling, this is what I went through: a school building that's been torn down.
In the second year of schooling, this is what I went through: two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the third year of schooling, this is what I went through: three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the fourth year of schooling, this is what I went through: four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the fifth year of schooling, this is what I went through: five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the sixth year of schooling, this is what I went through: six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the seventh year of schooling, this is what I went through: seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the eighth year of schooling, this is what I went through: eight terms of mathNEWS seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the ninth year of schooling, this is what I went through: nine home room teachers eight terms of mathNEWS seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the tehth year of schooling, this is what I went through: ten quarters* of books nine home room teachers eight terms of mathNEWS seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the eleventh year of schooling, this is what I went through: eleven carefree summers ten quarters of books nine home room teachers eight terms of mathNEWS seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
In the twelveth year of schooling, this is what I went through: twelth terms on campus eleven carefree summers ten quarters of books nine home room teachers eight terms of mathNEWS seven notes o'admission six address changes five school transfers four dozen profs three withdrawals two all-nighters and a school building that's been torn down.
*: 1 quarter = 28 pounds = 12.73 kg.