MY LAST DAY AT COLLEGE

Cowper said,

"What peaceful hours, I once enjoyed! How sweet their memory still!"

Sweet memories are like sweet smelling flowers grown on the strenuous path of life. Though they change
life into a blooming and blaming garden, genuine wisdom is usually showered on us from the dark clouds
of painful past. The man who learn nothing from his perturbing past should expect nothing from fragrant
future because:

"What is bitter to bear may be rosy to remember."

My last day at college is a memorable experience of my life. No doubt, it is also a bit bitter experience but
it will ever shine in my mind‟s eye like a smiling tear. It is marked with anxiety, sadness and well wishes.

Parting is always associated with gloom and grief. The place one loves to stay at cannot be easily
forgotten. Thus, it haunts the mind in the years to come. The good past days come to mind and their
remembrance makes us sometimes sad and many times delighted. Hence, in the storehouse of my college
memories, enriched with many pearls and pebbles collected over the last two years, the last day at the
college occupies a very conspicuous position. It has mixed feelings of sadness and bliss. During the last
two years‟ stay at the college, I did never feel that I had developed so strong and deep association with
the college. Hence, the very idea of last day at college makes me sad and gloomy.

“Great asset is glorious past It urges man to work hard.”

In every college, there is a tradition that the junior students give a farewell party to the senior outgoing
students. In this way in our college every year, the students of first year class give a farewell to the second
year class students who are departing for their Board examination. Although parting from one college is
always sad yet in the manner the last day at the college is made a memorable occasion for the students
who are leaving. Robert J. Kibbee has said right:

“The quality of a college is measured more by the kind of Student it turns out than the
kind it takes in.”

This day is definitely a sad day for those who are leaving. However, at the same time it is full of hopes
because they are now going to achieve their mission for which they had joined the college years ago. On
this day, both the students and the teachers organized a wonderful function under the supervision of Vice
Principal.

“Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but the good things that happen to you on
a piece of marble”

Helen Keller, the dumb and deaf American authoress, holds that we do not value the things until we lose
them. Her words echoed in my mind on my last day at college. It was only then I realized how much I
cherished the college I was going to leave, It seemed to me as if somebody were drawing my soul out from
my body. I must acknowledge that I had spent the most valuable time of my life at college and rightly call
it the asset of my life.

On my last day at college, I got ready early in the morning and reached college at about 8:00 a.m. with my
friends to spend the whole day at college campus. It was chilly but sunny day. The farewell party was to be
held in the big Hall. The farewell function started at 10:00 a.m. All the students sat very peacefully with
the worthy Principal and the Professors. As the principal entered the auditorium, all the students and
teachers rose from their chairs to welcome him. The ceremony started with the verses from the Holy
Quran. Someone has said right;
 “No matter how much you hate your college but you will always miss it when you
leave.”

Firstly, a student from first year rose to speak. He appreciated our behavior and dealings with them. He
enumerated the good events and good days spent with us and then bade us farewell. Then, I behalf of my
class was asked to speak few words. I thanked the first year students for arranging so grand party. I also
thanked the teachers and office staff for their guidance and cooperation during our stay at the college and
hoped that they would guide us in the future as well. Someone has said really right;

“Goodbyes are not forever.

Goodbyes are not the end.

They simply mean I'll miss you

Until we meet again!”

My feelings at that time were a mixture of gaiety and sadness. I was gay at the thought that the first phase
of my college career had been successfully completed. I could not help feeling sad also because I was
going to leave behind the institution where I had passed two gleeful years of my life. I was also
overwhelmed with passions that I moved to tears and a wave of sadness ran across the whole atmosphere.
Even nature seemed shedding tears with us. Thomas Haynes has said;

“Friends depart and their memories takes them To her caverns, pure and deep.”

Robert Maynard has said;

“The object of education is to prepare the young To educate themselves throughout

Then the Principal rose to speak. He told us various valuable precautionary measures and practical tips
beneficial for the examination. He guided us how to attempt the paper, finish it well in time and revise it.
He reminded us of our duties as students and as citizens of state. He stimulated us to fight against evils.
He advised us to remain staunch Muslims and true Pakistanis, wherever we go and whatever we do. He
quoted much precedence from the pious life of our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAAW and our
national heroes to lead a successful practical life. He urges us to work hard and bring name to out Alma
Mater, our parents and the country so that a positive image about Pakistan may emerge in the comity of
nations. Moreover, he also advised us that:

“Purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. As long as you live, keep learning how
to live."

At the end of the academic reference, an elaborate lunch was served in our honour as we had also done a
year before. After the dinner, there was a variety show. The students sang songs, performed skits and
other funfair items. Then we were bade farewell formally. However, I could not move off without having a
last glimpse of the college.

Revarol has said;

“Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, Are best relieved by the letting of
water.”

I went to the Union Office and sat there for a few moments. I recalled the last elections of the College
Union. I remembered how we formed a new organization to beat the old organizations. Hundreds of the
students moved about enthusiastically day in day out to secure votes for their candidates. What a period
of bliss, delight, fervor and enthusiasm! Moreover, I went to the playground where I played different games
with my fellows, where cricket-matches between college classes had been played and functions for many
co-curricular and extracurricular activities had been organized. It is rightly said;

“Every ending has a new beginning.”

Then, I moved to the library. I remembered how I had access to the rare and valuable books. I walked
along the rows of almirahs and shelves of books and looked at the countless books wistfully. Moreover, I
returned the library issuance card to the Librarian who wished me a bright future and successful life.
Afterwards, I went the Chemistry Lab and recalled the instructive hours spend there. I recollected how we
made fun of chemistry apparatus and how we rose up from seats saying “Its Magic, Wow! Magic” while
doing volumetric analysis and titrations. It is rightly said;

“Don‟t cry because you are leaving, Smile because you were there.”

Then I moved to the Physics Lab. There I saw all of my and my friends‟ assignments and projects hanging
on the walls. I remembered those days when we were making those projects and learnt a lot from it. After
a while, I went to Biology Lab and saw that special microscope that I always took for microscopic
examination. I saw those slides that I had made with my own hands during the practical period. At the end,
I visited Computer Lab and moved along the rows where I used to sit. These all feelings were the feelings
of saying goodbye to everything. Jean Paul Richter has said right;

“Man‟s feelings are always purest and most glowing In the hour of meeting and of
farewell.”

Now, the memories of classroom were stirred up. How often did I feel bored? How often did I dislike some
of the professors for their strictness about percentage of attendance and laboratory work? How often did
we speak ill of the Principal for his strict discipline and turning down our some of requests? However, on
that day all of those feelings had transformed into love, respect and regards. In the words of Larisa Olenek,
I realized,

“College inspired me to think differently,

It‟s like no other time in your life.”

I was so lost in the memories and thoughts that I did not realize the late afternoon. In the meantime, my
best friend Usama stroked at my shoulder and we started to move towards the gate.

The photographer took our photographs, as reminiscence for the college. My mind was crowded with the
thoughts of friends, kind, affectionate professors and the fatherly Principal. I was constrained to utter;

“Farewell my friends,

Farewell my foes,

My love with these,

My care for those.”