Source: NCL

It was a day filled with joy and happiness among the juniors. After months of exam preparations, MOSLERs, hospital ward rounds, bedside teachings, simulation sessions, small group discussions and late-night studying, it’s finally the day where they receive the scroll that made it all worth their time: CONGREGATIONS 2019.

Source: NCL

Upon reaching the venue, we were welcomed with the sight of people scurrying around in their black graduation robes with the furry red-lilac sash, proud parents with smiles plastered on their faces, friends and family walking around with bouquets and cameras hung around their necks. Déjà vu. The memories started reeling back.  I was in their shoes a mere 9 months ago.  It was how I remembered it to be last October.

You could see it from the beaming smiles, hear it from the never-ending congratulatory greetings, and even smell it from the fresh sunflower and gerbera bouquets sold by vendors outside the hall. Everything here screams one word: HAPPY!

It was a day of celebration. To celebrate milestones and achievements. No one cared about when they were going to get their job postings; no one worried about being unemployed for the next year.  It was best that way. Why worry when you could spend the rest of your post-convocation days listening to your parents’ nag about those issues.

I was glad to have made the trip down to share this joyous moment with the juniors. I had a glimpse of how the whole day was from an entirely different perspective. Like the lecturers, I felt like a proud older sibling. Watching them work their way through medical school and finally up the stage to receive their scrolls really struck a chord.

To all juniors out there, CONGRATULATIONS on reaching another milestone in your life. Spend all the time you want cooped up in bed, watching movies, doing nothing or anything that pleases your heart.  Ignore those complaints saying that you are being lazy. You deserve a timeout after so many years of studies and long breaks such as these do not come by often. Trust me. You will not regret being unproductive for a few months.