Secondary school is over. My mother and I celebrated my last day of secondary school at a local Korean restaurant. We had some black bean noodles which traditionally, graduates would eat in Korea as a form of ceremony. Although my Mother was extremely proud of me and was ecstatic for my ‘achievements’ her emotions just weren’t rubbing off on me, however hard I tried I couldn’t share her excitement.
Fast forward to this morning-while reading last weeks edition of The Economist I wondered why I could not share my Mothers festivity yesterday, and you know what dear reader, I think I’ve figured it out. During our celebratory meal my mother was thinking ahead, she was looking forward into the distant future. She saw my graduation as another ‘life-hurdle’ of sorts I had successfully jumped over, I suppose for my mother seeing both her sons graduate safely was another tick off her bucket list.
However, I saw my graduation discordantly. To me yesterday felt like the end of the carefree ambiance I lived and resided in. It signified the end of my childhood, what once had a light purple tint was now just a mundane miserable damp morning.
To mark the end of year 11 we had a light-hearted assembly celebrating our year groups achievements. In a serious of unfortunate events I ended up winning the ‘cutest year 7’ award, and my prize came in the form of my year 7 mugshot being projected for everyone’s viewing pleasure. While I examined my pre-pubescent face typically lacking any jaw definition, I couldn’t help but feel rather melancholy as I could remember my time in year 7 as if it were yesterday. And this is where my mother and I differ, for whilst she looked ahead my sight were fixated into the past. Graduation for me meant I was one-step closer towards a grey-er future; with grey suits, grey cars, grey jobs, and grey lives.
What I’m trying to say I suppose is that one cannot only dwell in the past. Our lives are attached to this arrow we call ‘time’, and however hard we try to stop it or slow it down by trying to relive past memories, it will continue to go forward. Life is like trying to walk up the wrong escalator, if you walk normally you’ll stay in the same spot, if you run you’ll slowly make progress, but if you stand still you’ll end up going backwards. And that is exactly what I was doing, I was standing still reminiscing the past and that’s why I was feeling so down, I was going backwards.
I digress..
Anyhow after 5 years of both up’s and downs I can proudly present to you my form 11AR.
Josh
02/05/15
Fatherkim 
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