Two things happen simultaneously as we age: working memory capacity declines and experience accumulates. These two forces working in opposite direction define the sensibility of a person. As someone has said, education is not so much about learning as it is about unlearning and relearning. We came out of the school as the scholars enthusiastic to learn more about the fields we had chosen. The college took some of our originality, gave us some of the means to educate ourselves and prepared us to delve deeper into the ocean of knowledge and find our pearls. The caveat of stopping to learn starts hovering the very day we left the college. Some of us could combat this successfully and many couldn't.
The day I entered University of Illinois, I was scared to have left behind my country and family. I was enthused to learn new things and I was eager to face ths shocks that were inevitable. Last 2 years gave me more than I could have expected. I met people - some nice, some not-so nice, some indifferent, some lovely, some helpful, some intellects, some geniuses and others. I tried to learn what learning meant and what survival is. The days passed by and 13th May came, the commencement day.
A heritage of 150 years unleashed in a passionate and picturesque ceremony. We entered with the tassels on our right, the sign of scholars in the process of learning and we left with the tassels moved to left, right above our hearts, a sign of 'having graduated'. And then you knew that its the end of schooling but beginning of self-education.
Like a field of driven snow,
Be careful how you tread it,
For every step will show.
I am grieved to be moving away from my friends and the campus which sheltered me for 2 yrs. They made those small but significant differences in my life that defines me today. And at this very moment, world looks all the more beautiful to me. " Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors."
Alma Mater sculpture, UIUC