4 Years for A Lifetime

4 years ago I was haunted when I learnt that there would only be approximately 40 people in my batch starting this endeavour to get a degree with me. I was afraid that I won't be able to find a friend who can match my crazy. Little did I know, I did not find friends—I found a family.

A family that I know will last for a lifetime. 

One that might not always meet nor connect, but one that I know will always help each other in times of need. 

One that doesn't always get along throughout the ups and down, one that has its own kind of stupid annoying drama, but one that have been through it all as one.

One that started off as naive, idealistic, immature and one that ended a bit better fit for this tough world (or so I hope). 

One that has changed lives. All 40 of ours and even beyond. 

One that truly lives up the idea of "you like because and you love despite" from the movie set it up, because you simply can't like all 40 of your family members, can you? But deep down you love them all idiots anyhow for all the things you have in common and all the hardships gone through together.

All those late nights at campus, all those meals enjoyed in togetherness, all those silly stories we've gained, and all those frustration and even tears shed over all the challenges we (finally) managed to tackle and grew from. Oh all the sweet sweet memories (that could at times be more sour than the most sour lemons in this world) in the all too short moments. 

Describing something that has taken a fifth of our lifetime in a word or two might be a clichè thing, but then again what's there to loose and once in a while, let's allow ourselves to some degree of clichè, for old times sake if anything. 

second home,

Most of us began as strangers. Then we became acquaintance. Next, before we know it some become best friends for life. Remember the days when all we had in common was that ugly white collared shirt, some buttons and one egg? Today you share more shits with some of us even more than you do with your biological family, don't you?

Then again, it's also called second home as at times we literally spent more time in that building more than we do our own houses. 

As with all "home", there would be time we hurt each other. There were times the closest hurt us the most, the idiots just won't stop making mistakes, and the one you love silently asked for your forgiveness. Give it will you? After all, it's a family. It's not a perfect one obviously, but in the end, family forgives. 

hell, 

Been through the 4 years of it, I'm sure you know it by heart. It is a fun hell filled with crazy demons.  From time to times again, it indeed felt like living in hell on earth with all the exhaustion and hopelessness. However we all knows that it really shapes our mentality in becoming survival—that upholds integrity. I am very well aware that we don't always act out of "integrity" the past 4 years, but I am sure that we learnt about its importance more and more with each mistakes. 

Our situation we are in right now is not ideal, we can't even celebrate the end of our "free trial" period offline, but it is how it is. If any, it gives us all the more reason to conduct a proper gather up events in the years coming, when things got better. 

unity, 

It was a place and time for a lot of various backgrounds to unite. We became a family that did not really care about our differences in terms of religions, race, MBTI & DISC test results, and all the other petty differences. We simply became one. One group of fledgling, with our own different dreams, ambitions, and passion. But hey, do keep in mind that we are one solid flock! (lots can testify on that)

Enough highlights on the 40 of us, we were lucky enough to be taught, mentored, and guided by amazing lectures. Those who taught in a manner that we like and also some that we never truly understood (lol). Served and helped by sincere staffs and ibu admin. Believed it or not, it's also thanks to to them that we made it this far. They played a huge role in what we became today (let's all raise our grateful prayers for them)

It doesn't get easier this day onwards, fellas. I'm sure you've realised that by now. 

But at least, hold on to this sweet memories through it all, will you?

If we survived this far, the same God already gives us the strength to conquer whatever it is coming our path next. 

In case you don't know it yet, I love you guys!

Best regards and wishes, 

the annoying me that loves you all despite.