I have been rewriting a different beginning for a few days now, but I can’t seem to find the right words to express the complex mix of gratitude and melancholy I feel at the moment. None of us wanted this to happen this way, yet strange situations call for even stranger measures. This year isn’t how I had imagined it for the past five years at this school. I have had many visuals about a graduation, and a wave of melancholy comes over me when I think about that not happening, yet I also live by the idea to not worry about the things not within my control. Not in the “don’t worry, be happy”, but in the way Paulo Coelho puts it:

“And when you can’t go back you have to only worry about the best way of moving forward”- The Alchemist

However, I still seem to spend a lot of energy on forcing myself not to worry about the past or present, about the situations I can’t change. The thing is, spending two months in my house, has given me a lot of free time and lack of options on where else to spend my energy. Yet, these last few months have also given me a deeper sense of gratitude for my time at UCSI as reminiscing became a good way to spend time, better than worrying. I would like to thank all my peers, my friends, for giving me such a wonderful high school experience. Some of you, I have known for six years now, and I hope that we can stay in touch next year. I want to thank you for all the memories we made. Each of us has a different path for the future, and I wish you all the best for where life takes you. I wish you happiness as you worry about the best way of moving forward, whatever that may be for you.

Besides my peers, I also want to thank all the teachers I have had at UCSI. When I came into this school first, in MYP 2, with very basic knowledge of the English language, it was you who guided me, to grow and find my passion. You guided me inside the classroom but also during breaks, lunches and ECAs. It may seem like IB jargon sometimes, but throughout my years here, I do honestly feel like I have come to embody many of the attributes that forms an IB student, which I have all of you to thank for.

Specifically, I would also like to thank the teachers I had these last two years, and of course, Ms Anita, our DP coordinator, for putting so much energy into helping us succeed. Even if this year was weird, with some unpredictable situations, you kept working to give us a nice finish to our DP studies.

Last, but definitely not least, I want to thank my parents, for giving me opportunities and for supporting me throughout this stage of life and towards the next stage. I want to thank my brother, who set an example for me and (unknowingly) motivates me to work harder. I want to thank my sister, for being my friend as well and standing up for me (even when I sometimes don’t want her too), I know she has my back just like I hope she knows I have hers. While this pandemic has brought many negatives with it, it has also given me more time to spend with my family.

I am privileged to have all of you in my life; friends, teachers and family.

Thank you.