#19 - Moving past a certificate

This week is show week, in which I present a piece I have been working on with 7 dancers, over 3 shows, at the annual spring concert for the dance company Kaleidoscope. Coincidentally, this same week, 8 years ago, I had my graduation ceremony, in which I graduated from the Kelley School of Business, with honors and a Bachelor's in Business Economics and Data Analytics.

I remember that day vividly. My parents had flown in from Singapore for the ceremony, and I had invited a couple of close friends as well to witness me closing one chapter and entering the next. As I prepared for the momentous occasion, I donned my black gown that morning, figuring our how to wear the mortarboard without looking like a complete fool, and googling which side of this ridiculous hat should the tassel go on (for those who forgot, it's the right). My parents were invested completely in this whole process of getting me looking my best self, a task that is usually near impossible with my nonchalance attitude to how I dress on a daily basis. Being their first child to graduate from college, they too shared my excitement, and I remember clearly their look of pride whenever I caught their glimpse the entire day, a look I'll likely never forget.

As I entered the massive auditorium, I was greeted by various grand banners and gonfalons, most of which I had no clue about their symbolic meaning, but paid reverence to them nonetheless. We were seated alphabetically by our last name, and unfamiliar faces surrounded me, as the business classmates I was familiar with don't share my special "T" in their last names. Not one who is comfortable striking up conversations with strangers, I sat in my seat and my entire journey through college flashed before me. The one and a half years in Nanyang Technology University in Singapore. The sudden jolt out of that environment, out of my home, and into a new country, new culture. Redoing all the classes I did in that one and a half years in a new college because the credits did not transfer. Compressing what will usually take an individual 4 years to complete a degree, into 2 years. The lonely nights. The late nights. The friends I made. All of these moments cycled through like flash cards in a Rolodex, and a multitude of emotions washed over me as I stared at that stage from my seat. A stage in which I will be ascending to mark my final steps in this journey, and descending to begin charting my own path.

As I stood in line waiting for my turn to be called up on stage, I found myself asking - In this exact moment, what is one lesson you want to take with you as you begin anew? My answer - to always bring joy to my environment, and to fill my life with the things I love. And so, as a way to cement this lesson in my brain, I did the one thing that I truly loved, that has been a constant throughout my life of change, and that constantly brings joy to those around me - I danced. Gliding my way up the stage, doing an arm wave towards the Dean as she presented me my certificate with a big smile amidst a roar of laughter, cheers and applause, I transitioned from one stage of life, to the next.

Social media reminded me of this moment, and along with it, a post from my 24 year old self, who puts it in no better words than I can today:

"To all my friends...I urge all of you to be true to yourself, to not be too caught up with what others think of you, and to always, always have fun and be silly. Because at the end of the day, what the world needs is not just another person with a certificate. What the world needs is someone who can bring a smile to the faces of many and uplift the spirits of those around them."

This week is show week. And I'm glad that after 8 years, I'm still able to have the opportunity to bring smiles to the faces of many through movement, and hopefully, bring smiles to those around me as well in my daily actions.