Graduation
Well, I’ve finally graduated after five very long years in Aber. The day started off in the wee hours of the morning when I drove to Khang’s house. From there, we drove all the way to Aber with the usual Initial D musical fare as our soundtrack.
We arrived in Aber around 8:30am and went for breakfast. Once finished, we promptly made our way to the arts centre where I attended rehearsals and left Khang to his own devices. Afterwards, I quickly collected my robes and mortarboard and bumped into Hayley who looked lovely in her dress and I collected my parents for my photograph session. Back at the arts centre, we all made our way into the Great Hall where we took our seats. Mark and Khang decided to sit to my right whereas my parents chose to sit towards the back of the hall.
The ceremony itself was pretty damn cool and rather surreal. The reality of the situation doesn’t really hit you until you’re just about to go on stage and being right at the end of the alphabet doesn’t really help things. There was some cool harp music which sounded like it was straight from Final Fantasy VII. I don’t think I’ve ever clapped so much in my life!
There was a mini reception afterwards where I was able to catch up with a few friends. A lady from the BBC asked Neal, Sam and I to pose for a photo which actually did appear on the BBC Wales website earlier today! After the hullabaloo died down, we all made our way down to the Park Lodge hotel where the School of Management & Business held a reception for all of us graduates. I got to say hello to several of my favourite lecturers and staff which was great and also collected my Class of 2007 photo.
Gérard’s house was the next port of call where I dropped off some discs and books for Kasia who’s started learning to drive. We had a bit of a chat about the normal geek stuff and bid the big man farewell.
We headed back to Brum for dinner at TGI Fridays where I bumped into Priya’s sister. We all ate too much as expected… Khang and I made our way back to his house where I discovered that I’d left my car unlocked all day… I was finally introduced to Khang’s friends, Bert and Phan, who as it turns out I’d met before! I made my way home around 11:30pm and fell straight into bed.
It was a fantastic day and I felt tearful at times. Aber has been very good to me throughout the years; it has given me friends for life, an education, romance, and fond memories.
