Have you ever heard of the atrocity of paying in order to attend your own graduation?
I have.
In fact I have to pay a whooping RM500 in order to attend my graduation ceremony (which is in a couple of hours). Monash University Malaysia is an evil corporate money sucking machine and it's their last chance to siphon money out from their students before they send them off to fend for themselves in the real world.
Graduation has been ritualized and now every proud parent of a student would love to watch the 1 minute act of their child going up on stage, shake the hand of the Chancellor, smile and walk off.
Even despite my rage against the evil conglomerates and instead of graduating in absentia in Australia, I wanted to give my parents that moment.
Once I applied for graduation, I've been asked every single week on when my graduation date is, what time does it start, how many tickets do I get, etc etc. I am not impressed by their lack of memory or attention.
I've already graduated once. What's the point in doing it again!??!
Stupid rituals...
As time draws closer to doomsday, I am again asked the details of my graduation. "It starts at 3, I don't have the tickets, I will be there at 12.30 to collect my gown, it will be until 5 and if you want to take portrait photos it will be a long line so line up early".
My Chinese parents apparently have a friend's wedding anniversary to attend to, so they want to come late. My flesh and blood sister wants to go to the gym and will wait for my parents to pick her up instead of accompanying me to get my gown. My uncle and aunt from London want to take portrait photos to show my other uncles and aunts but since they don't have tickets, my parents asked them to come around 5.30.
Did I mention that these people are all related to me?
The only person whom I can tolerate at the moment is my grandpapa. He's feeling a lot better since his visit to the hospital and I'm glad he can make it to my graduation.
Monash has already given me so much grief.
I just need to borrow a little more strength to endure tomorrow.