The year with them has already gone to fast to believe. I wonder if when I was in high school it was the same with me. But hey, guess what? Today I got to see them graduate such a grand joy for them. It surely was…or tell me wouldn’t you he happy on your graduation day? “Why certainly, I will?” I can almost hear you say now. :)

Well, there have been two graduations in the past two weeks; the kids passing out from kindergarten to grade one and just on Sunday, the Grade 12’s passing out to the university. Right now let’s just forget the former graduation with the little kids; but that too was beautiful. I just at the moment want to concentrate on the latter, after all, that crowned the whole academic year.

The ceremony was beautiful, surprised many, even I, as the long drawn programme didn’t outlast it estimated timing. What I call, short but beautiful.

Preparations for this programme were so tiring. Right now reflecting on the whole issue, I can see my uncle, Isaac working tirelessly, whether with passion or not; he’s the only one that can answer. What is so sure; the man works so hard, much harder during school festivities. Well, we always arrive in school early, leave very late: just to make sure that all is perfect all the time. Opps! Last I remember we were talking about the graduation not my uncle.

Anyways, allow me start from the few minutes before the commencement of the whole show. My cousin, Adom by now you should know her- the very source of most of my articles and reflections- walked into my corner in the office building where some prefer to call an office. :) She was in the most beautiful attire, you could ever imagine. How far can you imagine? :) Only to find out later that her simple black and white attire was among the best. I know she’ll disagree, and so many others too but trust me, I know what I saw. You would have agreed with me too if you saw her. She called her attire, “too dressy!” I wonder what that means because if being appropriately dressed for an occasion is, “dressy,” then I think we should all be dressy then, don’t you think? She claimed her mother wanted her to wear that for the occasion. She didn’t want to, up till the time I saw her. You know what? I think sometimes we do need mothers to tell us what to do. I know sometimes they can be…but on this occasion mother was right. Hmmmm, and when was mother ever wrong? :)

Around the next few minutes, the parents, children, friends, students and graduates starting filing into the main grounds. The ceremony was amazing like I said; drama performance portraying the different nations and cultures in the school, – it is an international school – some doing their native dances missing little steps but it still added to the beauty of the programme when friends and family see their little children in Grade 1 to Grade 5 trying their best to show to the world what they know of their roots. I smiled and laughed throughout especially when a sweet first grader called Kenza who claimed she was “Dzula” – a tribe in Ivory Coast, and I don’t think she is – was missing some of her dance steps. Awwww! She looked adorable doing it; trying hard to keep up with the music beats; thinking in her minds eye that she was doing her best and sure she was! There was of course a singing performance by the Choir of the Juniour and Senior High choir, which didn’t really thrill me that much – they have been singing the same songs throughout the few festivals in the one year I have been here! – No offense but it has to stop; some guy picks up the microphone, grips it like some hip hop artiste, supposing to be the best lead voice. The first guy who led before him was better. But of course with him also, today of all days he decided to lose his voice. So just like his other lead vocal, they kept singing phrases with was repeated by the whole choir – amazing voices! You should have heard. I’m not trying to brag or anything but I do sing well than what I saw today. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for appreciating talent but when that talent refuses to sit down and rehearse for the big stage, NO I can’t buy that! We are not going to let this ruin our final academic day, are we? Certainly not!

Now! The part I love is where the graduates procession past the audience. Short, tall, fat, slim, they all were there. When the headmistress gave her speech and final word to them, she told them, “…once a glorian always glorious…!” That sentence moved me. It had been derived from the school’s name, Morning Glory International School. They were now venturing into a, “new world, new challenges, new adventures,” said the Head Boy, my buddy Marc, the valedictorian. Yes! There is more work after this stage of their lives now passing. I pray that God keeps them in their new areas of this challenging life and remain strong, and certainly, “be glorious!”

The programme ended with photo shoots and then after they was going to be the after parties. I was invited for one but I was too tired to go, I know Gina- the now graduate, ex-head girl of the school- will understand. I had some many hugs from many of the graduates, some who were even taller than me :) (The high heels today made it worse). I love hugs and I love receiving and giving then too; besides I was not going to see them again next academic year, I have to now return back to my country to school in a few weeks.

It just hit me! I’m therefore not going to see all those beautiful, adorable, some times annoying little graders. I remember embracing Babalwu warmly. A young girl in grade five before she left – a girl I call my sister, so sweet – I had to tell her I may not see her next year because I will be leaving to the university in a few weeks. I’m going to miss her very much just like Faikat, a fourth grader who refuses to talk to me because I didn’t fulfill my promise of getting her a diary; likewise Aurelia her mate, who has a wonderful talking voice and the wil to make sure things are done right in her class. Chelsea, another third grader, originally from my country Ghana, born in America. The list goes on and on and on!

Indeed God gave such his son to die for us; but he also gave us friends in wherever we found ourselves; to portray His love to us through them. One year with MGIS has been a tiring and interesting one but indeed an experience.