At the start, all graduates and families gathered together and waited for traditional Scottish bagpipes to play. I could feel the fever mounting as I stood with them. All of them yelled their slogans powerfully. People, who were along the route or in the town, cheered the graduates from the bottom of their hearts as they paraded past.
After the parade, we all walked into the Dunedin Town Hall. The first thing I saw was the huge organ. I have no words to describe what I felt when I heard it – everyone was in awe as the organ played. Then, students glided from the entrance into their seats as the music played and their folks stood up and applauded harder and harder. When the graduates walked to the stage people couldn’t help but yell and scream for their family. Also, their lecturers stood up which was so inspiring for their lovely students.
At the end, everyone sang an anthem to the organ’s music. Lecturers and students finally said goodbye to each other as they left the hall with mixed emotions. Students may have felt happy because they had achieved their goals or they may have felt sad as Otago/New Zealand had become their home and they were reluctant to leave.
I was moved by that day. I know how hard those graduates worked to achieve their results. I enjoyed the day not only because it was my cousin’s graduation but also, I think because I’m lucky to study in this country which has such great traditions.
I’m lucky to study in this country which has such great traditions
