Turning 18 and expressing gratitude.

Gratitude and Graduation Ceremony at the Ethnic Boarding High School (Ham Thang Ward)

Youthful years at boarding school

At the Ethnic Boarding High School (Ham Thang Ward), this year's graduation and appreciation ceremony for 12th-grade students was not overly elaborate. However, it was precisely this simplicity that made the emotions more evident in the eyes, smiles, and even tears of the students from the highlands.

Unlike many other high schools, the majority of students here are children from ethnic minority communities, coming from villages dozens of kilometers away from the center. Some students leave their villages and their parents' embrace for the first time to begin boarding life in 10th grade. Three years of schooling are not just about classroom hours, but also about communal meals, late-night study sessions, and moments of homesickness where teachers offer encouragement and support.

The children who once cried from homesickness now know how to wash their own clothes, take care of themselves, be considerate of their friends, and live more responsibly. What they carry with them after three years is not only knowledge, but also maturity. Ha Thi Phuong Diem, a student in class 12.6, shared that what she misses most is not the stressful study hours, but the communal life in the dormitory. "Here, we live together like a family. When I feel homesick, it is the teachers and friends who are there to encourage me," Diem said.

At the graduation and farewell ceremony, familiar images of the dormitory, classrooms, schoolyard, communal meals, and final exam preparation nights slowly appeared in each frame, bringing back three years of youth in this moment of parting. Bouquets of flowers were presented to homeroom teachers, dormitory managers, cafeteria staff, security guards, and others as a sincere thank you to those who had silently cared for the students throughout their years away from home.

Words of thanks

That emotional atmosphere was also present at the graduation and appreciation ceremony for 12th-grade students at Tanh Linh High School. The moment that brought many to tears was the ritual of pinning flowers to express gratitude to their parents and teachers. Amidst soft music, each student walked down to the parents' seats and gently pinned small flowers onto their parents' lapels. There were tight hugs, trembling hands, and silent tears as the students expressed their gratitude to their parents for the first time in front of a large crowd.

Many students then bowed their heads before their teachers as a token of gratitude to those who had silently guided them throughout their school years. The lectures, the reminders, and even the strictness of those days now became beautiful memories before they said goodbye.

The ceremony was made even more meaningful with the 18th birthday celebration. A large cake was lit with candles amidst enthusiastic applause, marking a milestone of maturity for each graduating student. Turning 18 brings with it a multitude of emotions: joy, excitement, and a touch of anxiety as they stand on the threshold of the future.

Each school organizes its own graduation and appreciation ceremony, but they all share a common emotional connection: expressing gratitude to parents, teachers, and the school that have accompanied students throughout their youth. According to the schools, these ceremonies not only signify farewell to school life but also contribute to educating students in life skills, gratitude, and responsibility as they approach adulthood.

The graduation ceremony will soon come to an end, and the schoolyard will be devoid of the familiar white uniforms. But the lingering hugs, the choked-up words of gratitude, and the memories of turning 18 will surely remain in the hearts of each student for a long time as they stand on the threshold of adulthood.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/tuoi-18-va-nhung-loi-cam-on-444497.html