last sunday, april 1, my not so baby brother kippy graduated from high school. coming from a family where both parents graduated heavily laden with medals and leadership awards, a graduation that did not involve you giving a speech or them bestowing you with medals is generally considered a non-event. needless to say, not much attention/celebration/delight was had at either of our high school graduation ceremonies.
but watching him go up the stage and into his graduation day, i think i celebrated him for all four of us - i was just really proud to see what kind of person he has become, and is still turning out to be.
i'm not saying that there are no more rough edges that still need to be sloughed off, but i just see so many things that i feel deserve to be celebrated.
like his good heart. over hot chocolate the night of his graduation, he shared how pleased he was that he was able to make amends with nearly everyone (save for the truly big assholes) whom he had fights with throughout his high school life. i think during my high school graduation, my most dominant thought was just that i was finally getting rid of the constricting and guilt-laden pressure of our high school. he tried his hardest to be at peace with everyone he fought with, and i commend him for it.
like his thoughtfulness. i saw how he took great care to give gifts to particular people whom he sought refuge and comfort from during the tumultuous times (and there were a lot). a friend whose brother was graduating with their batch told me that her brother didn't even think to write letters to his friends, and was so impressed that kippy cared enough to remember to do both - write letters and give gifts that represented the friendship that he gratefully accepted.
like his kindness. he is slow to criticise and quick to affirm. he is easy to please and easy to be with.
like his mababaw na kaligayahan - we revel in plenty of the simplest things. a great cheap meal, a nice afternoon spent doing movie marathons. he does not demand (although he does enjoy) designer clothes, and he is happy wearing things that are not designer in the least bit.
like his determination for things he is passionate about. his music, his craft, his friends, his days with the lord service. when he cares for something he gives it his full attention, and is not afraid to be criticized about any of them.
like his inherent personability. he doesn't try to be someone he's not, he doesn't idolize idiotic role models like many young teenage boys do. he doesn't aspire to be a player or cool in the annoying way that other teenage boys do. he can hang out with almost everyone, and he is consistent with all of his friends.
like his overall goodness. his grades may underestimate him, there is so much more to him than that. he may be overly addicted to his passions, but they are not passions or vices to frown upon. he indulges in simple things - computer games, good food, good friends, good conversations.
i'm just pleased to see so much good in him. yesterday, during a job interview, the interviewer asked me to enumerate my proudest accomplishments, and i answered that he was one of them. i do not consider him to be solely my accomplishment, but i am just pleased that i somehow played a role in forming this kind person.
definitely a cause for celebration.
No comments:
Post a Comment