Officially A Graduate!

Mary
Apr 29, 2020
4 min read

December 5, 2017; Tuesday

HEYYYYY!!!!!!!

It’s been a few months since I wrote something in here, I was too busy with life yet again and I was lost, to say the least. I didn’t know what to write or what to feel lately that’s why I have been a bit distant from all of this and probably from everyone too I’m sorry to say.

Also, more than 2 months late - but you’d be happy to know that your girl just graduated!!!

WOHHOOOOO!! BRING ON THE CAKE!!!!

To be honest with you, I never thought I’d be able to see myself on a graduation gown (or toga as we call it in the Philippines), let alone graduate in London. I know this sounds overrated but I seriously feel like everything was just a dream. Call me overacting or what but this was how I felt and I’m just so overwhelmed I want to cryyyyyyy.

Looking back, it seems just like yesterday I was fighting with everyone in pursuing Culinary Arts because I didn’t want to study or attend a college that wasn’t about cooking. Those 7 years went by so quickly and I just couldn’t believe I’m here now- though I know I still have a freaking long way to go but from the very scaredy-cat girl that I was, only dreaming about cooking for people and for the world and nothing else to well, a little bit less the scaredy-cat girl. It’s not really the rainbow with sunshine and sprinkles kind of life but so far, it has been an awesome ride and despite being unemployed for a few months now, I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason and maybe right now it’s God’s way of saying I needed to take a break because the next chapter in my life will be tons and tons of work and that I should spend time with my family because who knows when we’ll be able to do this again. YUP. Being unemployed makes you realize a ton of deep stuff.

Okay, enough with the drama you didn’t came to read. I apologize but that little backstory has been the reason for everything and it got me to where I am now.

Anyhow, a couple of months ago when I finished my course in London and was getting ready to come back home to the Philippines, I asked my parents for another big favour since they were happy with my school results that they asked me what I wanted as a graduation gift. If it’s not obvious enough, I asked to go back to London for my graduation. I was lucky enough to find a school that made students wear graduation gowns even though our course was only for a year. I never expected it since I’m so used to my country that the only time you’ll be able to wear it with pride only happens when you finish a degree in college- which I never did. There was nothing in life I wanted more than to make my family proud of me after all the crap I’ve caused, like for instance stepping out of the stereotype that we, a Chinese-Filipino family have to achieve a degree in either business, agricultural or medical-related. Well, now I’m here. I survived (or should I say, surviving for now..) and eventually my family warmed up to me in my culinary dreams and fully supported/is supporting me.

So after a year of bliss in London, after all the hard work, every volunteer/stagier work my teachers gave me which I never failed to attend – be it far or near somewhere in London and the many rare sunny days that was so precious I had to miss because I was studying and doing projects – being afraid to fail because who am I kidding my parents spent a lot of money to make me attend school there and the least I could do was study as hard as I could with all the might that my tiny brain could endure. Well, I’m proud to say it was worth it and I’m fucking proud of myself. Excuse my language but I thought it was an absolute fit for the feeling that I have for myself after surviving a year on my own….. so far.

My chefs from Westminster Kingsway College (Chefs Ian, Miranda and Françoise) gave me an incredible honour of awarding me the Best Culinary Student of our course, Higher International Culinary Diploma and I’m eternally grateful for it. I’ve put myself down so many times that it was such an incredible feeling of having people believe in you even through the days when you don’t believe in yourself. I felt so loved and grateful by the people around me more than words can say.

Thank you to my now alma mater, Westminster Kingsway College, thank you to my chefs and the chefs I’ve encountered, to the many incredible people in London who became my friends and to the nice random strangers I’ve talked to along the way. My London experience wouldn’t be the same without you.

To my family- my parents, brothers, sister-in-law and nephew, my inspirations in life, thank you for every day and every single little thing. The number of words in English and every other kind of language on the dictionary will never be enough to tell you how much I love you and thankful for all of you.

To my friends in my home country and to the new ones I’ve made, I couldn’t describe how thankful I am to every single one of you who made an impact on my life to get to where I am today and made me believe in myself more. You know who you are and thank you.

Like the cashier at Nando’s once said to me: “ No one’s going to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself too. “

Here are some photos of our graduation! I was so busy catching up with everyone I didn’t have time to take some more!!

And we had such a short week in London but it was one of the most memorable ones and I’d like to say the jet lag was worth it.