Class of '09

In general, a graduation ceremony signifies the end of a student's life in whatever learning institution currently resided. Graduation is when students attain new found freedom after having to go through the grueling torture of a final exam, after having to suffer few grueling years of schooling. Not for a Malaysian high school student though.

Today, I, along with my fellow fifth formers of Raja Zarina, ceremoniously graduated from our school. Our graduation ceremony happens today, but we are going back to school on Monday as if nobody has ever squeaked the word 'graduation'. Then we will be sitting for our major exam on the 18th of November.

The venue of this event was Crystal Crown Hotel, which is just right beside my school. Yes, I can see the hotel from my classroom. Those who attended were required to pay RM48, which was relatively expensive, considering other schools charged their students much lower fees, or didn't charge at all. So close to home, yet so expensive. One would have thought that the hotel would be kinder to its neighbour by not charging high.

Nevertheless, I had a great time throughout the event. I got to see my friends dress up (some for the very first time), take pictures with them (some for the very first time) and perform for the second and very last time with my classmates. We performed four songs (Gadis dan Bunga, What I've Been Looking For, The Climb and Gemuruh), and I thank God we managed to pull it off with the crowd cheering for us by the time we reached our last song.

With Zi Yin
Wei Ting The Indians looking gorgeous and colorful in their traditional clothes

Me, Thevaki, Amutha and Wei Ting

Muzira and Wafi

Hajira and Halimatul

Yin Hui and May

My darling Yvonne =D

Each of us get a thermos mug as a door gift.
As if they are afraid that we will be so unkind to forget where we get our education from that makes us the hope of tomorrow, our school logo is imprinted on the mug to haunt us forever.

These are yours truly, Mariam and Rekha

Halfway through the event and water is not served. And I paid RM48!

My darlings Priya and Yvonne

Thasha, the joker of my class.

Why do high school girls love doing this?

Yin Hui's leg barged in and distorted the circle

Wafi, Khairunisa and Muzira

Yin Hui and I

...plus Mariam!

Shaera, me, Yin Hui, Hazimah, Afiqah, Priya, Thasha and Ezzati

This picture would had been perfect if it weren't because of my proneness to shut my eyes

Jessica

Yin Hui, me, Jessica, Zi Yin, May and Wei Ting

Premala on my right, Lidia on my left and me looking weird in the center

Mun Yi

Poh Lee

My cousin Ke Ning

Staircase effect

Dashy, I want your dress!

Puan Wong, my English teacher

Hany

Puan Sartina at the center, our BM teacher and former class teacher

Kalsyana, Bindhu, me and Halimatul. Hajira in the background

Jeslyn

Looking back, being in Raja Zarina for the past five years has given me a collage of bitter and sweet memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Many lessons on friendship, responsibility, loyalty, sacrifice and love I have learnt that have mould me into who I am today. Of course, high school life is so much fun (amidst the occasional emotional and mental letdowns) thanks to the very close friends I have come to know and appreciate. I really hope the end of this year does not mark the end of our friendships.

All of you are going to be missed dearly.

I love you all!