Graduation is a time of mixed feelings - joy at having achieved an important milestone in one's career, and sadness at having to leave old friends and all too familiar places.
These were the emotions expressed in a touching farewell speech by one of the graduates at the 20th Anniversary and Joint Graduation Ceremony of the Lung Kong World Federation School (HK) Limited, held recently at City Hall.
Four schools took part - Lau Wong Fat Secondary School, Mrs Fung Yiu Hing Memorial Primary School, Lau Tak Yung Memorial Primary School, and Wong Yiu Nam Primary School. Around 300 secondary students received their graduation certificates.
Chau Ling-ling, the Lau Wong Fat Secondary School graduate who gave the farewell address, also thanked the teachers and principals of all four schools on behalf of the graduates and the other students.
The effect of Ling-ling's moving speech was heightened by a wistful performance on the harmonica by one of the students.
Speaking to Young Post after the ceremony, Ling-ling said she would cherish her school memories, and was certain her classmates would do the same. 'Graduation marks the end of school life and, at the same time, represents a new beginning,' she added. 'After graduation, students follow different paths. Some, like me, will continue their studies while others will enter the working world,' Ling-ling said. 'I wish everyone a wonderful and promising future, whatever role they take on.' The graduate said she was happy to have completed an important stage of her schooling, but was sad to be leaving her school and her friends of many years.