it's been a while since my heart was so rocked. this past year has been full of struggles & commitments, but what's there to regret? i never felt so much more at home. yet fortunately and unfortunately, the year had to end with 09's graduations. i never felt so many heart-felt soul-piercing mind-blowing words and tears. i sincerely know that all of the seniors i've met, especially those at SEAgrad, have changed my experience at berkeley. they've all changed my life. from uyennie's heart & norris's charm to jv's passion, to-trinh's inner strength, fong's good-humored wit & amiability. all of them are true inspirations. and for each and every one of them, when i gave them those final heart-filled hugs, nothing went through mind except "..when will be the next time i will see them? when's the next time i will see them with my own eyes and see them truly amaze me again and again?". when uyennie asked me to help move her furniture & belongings to her father's car, a part of me wanted to scream out "no! you're staying here!" during the final preparations for yesterday's performance, i just wanted to tell norris, "yo! you're not going back to texas, man!"
but seeing each and every one of them the last time, i know that they will continue to inspire people wherever they go. and that they'll continue to live within us and push us along no matter where they end up or whatever they end up doing. and knowing that, i was able to release those final hugs not with sadness but with a proud smile.
to all you seniors: keep on fulfilling your legacies. live on strong, continue to inspire, and know that there's still a home for all of you in berkeley and within each and every one of our hearts!
