Wave 2: Riding the Tide

Riding the Tide: My Graduation Sunset and the High Seas Ahead

The humid Singapore air clings to me as I wander down Koon Seng Road, marvelling at the vibrant Peranakan houses. Tucked away in a quiet alley, a mural titled "High Tide" by Hélène Le Chatelier (2019) catches my eye. Its swirling colours depict a woman surrendering to the ocean's powerful surge, mirroring the mixed emotions swirling within me. Graduation, like a receding wave, pulls away the familiar shore of student life, leaving me standing on the damp sand, both excited and apprehensive about the vast ocean ahead.

This isn't my first encounter with the sea's allure. Growing up, I would frequent the East Coast Beach with my family. Memories of childhood strolls along the beach, toes digging into the warm sand, still paint vivid pictures in my mind. Back then, the setting sun would blaze across the waves, casting long, rippling reflections just like today. But those reflections held the innocence of childhood dreams, not the anxieties of a future yet to be charted.

Graduation is a strange concoction of bittersweet closure and wide-eyed uncertainty. It's the culmination of late nights, crammed exams, and the camaraderie of shared journeys, but it's also a cliffhanger leaving you dangling with questions. What comes next? Where do I even begin? These swirling emotions remind me of that woman in the "High Tide" mural – eyes closed, arms outstretched, seemingly surrendering to the powerful surge of the sea. That's how I feel – ready to dive in, yet bracing myself for the unknown force of the current.

It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing myself to others, riding their carefully mapped-out career waves. But here's the thing: age is just a number, a societal tag that shouldn't dictate the timing of my personal tide. This "new phase" isn't defined by some arbitrary chronological milestone, but by the culmination of experiences, skills, and dreams I've accumulated thus far.

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Right now, my reflection might be blurry, the future hazy. But the apprehension is slowly giving way to hope, driven by the same tide of ambition that pushed me through graduation. Just like the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in a kaleidoscope of colours - I know my own journey will be filled with vibrant moments, both calm and turbulent. So, I take a deep breath, feeling the sand squish between my toes, and prepare to catch the next big wave, wherever it may take me.

This time, though, I won't just be swept along. I'll grab my metaphorical board, paddle hard, and steer with the compass of my own inner strength. The future might be uncertain, but the journey, like the ever-changing ripples on the water's surface, will be uniquely mine. So, here's to riding the tide, embracing the reflections, and navigating the vast ocean with courage and hope. Who knows, maybe I'll even leave my own shimmering trail for others to follow.