Luvprada

Poster presentation today.

Two of ex-utmkl students.

From school of mechanical and manufacturing engineering.

Since 27 November 2006, i have been start doing my research on this office desk and till now, 1 more week to go. Everything will come to an end this 16 February 2007. A 10 weeks of research.

For a while, I thought that friends’ leaving was no big deal. I would see those I know get together the night before their departure and they would all ball their eyes out about how they’re going to miss each other. I would always casually snicker at the sight and thought of such an event. It seemed so silly to me. My thought process was that if they’re your real friends, they’ll visit you one day in future and that’s not too far down the road.

So, I watched as all my friends left. I said goodbye, I hugged, I wished luck, and I said goodbye some more. Not once did I cry. I knew I’d see them again, so there was no point in getting overly emotional about it.

I felt like a pretty tough guy, not being affected by all these leaving stuff.

Then it hit me once I passed by their rooms (just next to mine).

The rooms next to mine (where they used to stay) brought noise and life to my room in the past month. Once they became empty, all that was there was a bed, table, and vacant wardrobe with some pieces of rubbish they left behind.

I stared at it for a couple seconds. It somehow seemed as if I will be all alone from now on. I ignored it. But then once I return to my room, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

They are leaving after a month of English course.

Was this actually happening? I didn’t feel any tears, but I was starting to feel…sad. I was hoping this would pass.

Then I started to think of them when I sat down it hit me more. Once I took my camera out and check those photos we took together, I was almost on the ground.

I was sad!

My friends seemed quite sad as they were leaving. I hate to sound detestably modest, but I wasn’t used to someone being sad that friends were leaving.

This really is a life changing experience. And up until the day they are leaving, it won’t seem like one. But once the little things in your life disappear - like a friend you take for granted – it will hit you like a bag of bricks. That’s how it was for me.

Needless to say, it was hard to say goodbye. I do miss my friends and family and can’t wait to get home and tell them how college has been, but I’m making sure to take every day in and make the most out of my stay here at Warrane College.

The point I’m trying to make here is that saying goodbye is never easy, no matter how tough you are. Maybe seeing some people in a group crying about leaving may make you chuckle now, but eventually there will be something to trigger your anxiety about leaving. Should you be afraid? No. Will you be afraid? Yes.

But don’t quell that fear, embrace it. Because once you get over it, you’ll realize it’s going to be one of the best experiences of your life and you’ll feel silly for even being so emotional in the first place.