Hyun Jee Kim/Page 50/Narratve Composition(2) Tue 9-11

The Unforgettable Moment of My Life

 

"I don't want this to end." Hugging my friends and crying, I kept repeating these words during my last week of high school and till my graduation day. At the time, I was 18 years old, a senior in high school. But unlike my friends who were already accepted and leaving the country for college, I didn't know what I was going to do. I had declined offers from American universities and instead was waiting for a reply from Japan.

 

At the beginning of the graduation ceremony, I was okay. I was fine and even excited that I was finally graduating high school. But as the class valedictorian finished her speech and we threw our graduation hats, my emotions broke. I couldn't stop crying.

 

Realizing that I just graduated high school and thinking about my future, I couldn't hold back my tears. Some were happy tears but most were as a result of my fear. I was scared that I wouldn't get into a university and that even if I got in, I wouldn't fit in.

 

I had thought that after all these years, I was brave and confident enough to meet people. Within 12 years of primary education, I had moved schools nine times in three different countries. It had felt like a yearly routine for me to move schools and meet new people. But after thinking about leaving a place where I spent most of my childhood years, I was scared.

 

When it was time to take pictures, my family walked towards me. They were quite surprised to see me crying. I could tell that my mother was holding back her tears. She came up to me and said the words that I still remember until today. "You can do it. You've done this before. I can't wait for what's to come next for your life."

 

Right away, I stopped crying and hugged my family. I think that was when it clicked; I shouldn't be scared, but should be grateful and happy. Looking at my dad who had been living alone for all those years and my mother who had been single-handily raising me, I knew that I should be grateful for the opportunities that I had been given and excited for what was to come next. I kept her words near my heart.

 

My mother was right. In that week, I received my acceptance letter from Japan and later that year I started my college life there. My experience in Japan turned out to be one of the most unforgettable and best times of my life. I had had faith in myself that I could do well in college and be excited for the future.

                                                                                             Hyun Jee Kim