We can count life’s graduations on just one hand:
Primary school, secondary school, university—
The shape of our faces, from pudgy to youthful to nearly mature, tracking our progress from one to the next.
Each stage precious,
Each graduation unique,
With each school’s ceremony developing its own character,
While graduation gifts have gone from the simple bunches of flowers of earlier times to today’s designer gifts.
For all that graduation ceremonies are becoming more creative, the goodwill that permeates them, and the regret we feel at leaving our alma maters, remain unchanged. As the old saying goes, “life begins at graduation.”
Though our paths through life may be different after leaving school, the friendships forged and the times shared in our youths bind graduates together forever.
Taking Flight: Graduation frees us to spread our wings, launch ourselves from the natal nest, and soar into the world beyond academia.
A Humbling Experience: Recognizing that managing our lives can be as challenging as climbing a mountain, Taipei’s Hushan Elementary School requires its students to conquer Mt. Qixing, Taipei’s tallest mountain, before graduating.
“Bearing” You in Mind: Here’s a teddy bear to remind you that I’ll always “bear” you in mind.
A Tamkang University Belle: Look at the youthful joy radiating from the smile of this university belle!
Time Stands Still: Students in graduation gowns shoot group photos all over campus, capturing images of their youths and friendships before they go their separate ways.
Remember Me!: These Long Men Junior High School students had classmates and teachers autograph their school shirts, the better to remember them.
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Not a Frown to Be Found: The laughter of children is priceless. There’s not a frown to be found among the students graduating from Hushan Elementary School’s affiliated kindergarten, only joyful smiles and laughter.
In Our Hearts: (right) Photographs keep our old classmates “close at hand” and in our hearts.
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