Our Graduation, A Special and Tragic Day
By Michael Vasquez Siguenza
ENG 1300
It was mid-January, at U.E.F.A.E #3 in Guayaquil, Ecuador and everyone in my class was anxious to receive their final results. It had been a tedious month and my classmates could not wait to find out what their final grades was. Two days later the results were finally in, and my classmates were very happy because the long waiting was over. I was not affected by any of these excitements yet I had something else to be excited about; my dream has finally come true because I was going to the United States.
Before I come to the United States on February 2nd 2002, I had already made an appointment to take the SAT; however, my graduation at U.E.F.A.E #3 was scheduled on the same day of my testing. Due to this inconvenience, I was not able to say my last goodbye to my friends at school; nevertheless, I remember telling them before that, I will never forget the moments we shared together.
At that point everything was happening so fast. Due to the date of my departure, my professor to the school principal to organize a small ceremony on my behalf. At the ceremony, there were a few people, which included my parents, teachers who supported me through my good and bad times and two of my friends. The teachers decided to end the ceremony early because they had to prepare for the actual event for my classmates and besides I had to go home and get ready because my flight was scheduled on the same at 11:00 pm.
The saddest point of the day was when I got to the airport and realized all that I was leaving behind, my friends and family, yet I did not shed a piece of a tear. I think the reason why I could not cry was because I was too sad and depressed, especially for my parents, Gladys and Polo, whom I love the most in this world. They had never let me down so leaving them behind was very hard for me because it felt like I was betraying them.
When I gave my papers to the immigration officer, he told me that I couldn’t leave the country because I didn’t have any military permission. However, my father fixed everything and I was able to leave the country. I nearly missed my flight because of the incident at the airport.
The day was finally here; February 2nd, my testing day at Kean University. I had a mixed feeling about the whole thing, I was a little excited about the test yet I wasn’t in the mood of taking the test. I arrived at the university at 9:00 am but when I got there, I realized that I forgot to bring my social security card. Without my card, there was no way I was going to be allowed to take the test, however my brother came and explained everything to them and I was finally allowed to take the test.
The most difficult moments of my stay were going back home after school to see the pictures of my friends and family back home in Ecuador. Sometimes, I felt like leaving everything here and go back to my country, but since it was a decision that I made, I just had to live with it. Weeks and weeks went by and one day I was chatting with a friend in Ecuador. Through our conversation she gave me the most horrible news a person would ask for. She told me that on the day of the graduation, our professor had too much to drink and while he was going home, a truck hit him so he was found dead on the next day.
I could not believe it because he was so young and full of life, leaving behind a wife and three children. What struck me the most was that he was one of my favorite teachers; he was there for me through my good times and bad times. The graduation was supposed to be a special day; however it ended as a tragedy.
The lord only knows when our time will come, which is why we should live to the fullest and express our love to the ones we care for, before it’s too late. Therefore I want to thank my professors, friends and my parents whom I love so much.