A Farewell Speech- By the then Sherubtse FINA Secretary 2011, Ms Sonam Choden

For all those who have been through schools and colleges, there is one day that all have to face – a graduation day. A day where you breathe freedom yet shed tears for leaving behind the place where you transformed from a boy to a man or from a girl to a lady.

Graduation is filled with multi-emotions, you feel elated yet dejected, happy yet sad. As this will be among the last days you will share with your friends and lecturers. The feeling seeps in later as the days conclude and you wish it never ends. Another happy effect of graduation is because of your teachers who pamper us unlike their routine days. Smiles spread on every face, they tell us so lovingly that they had a great time even though it’s not completely true. And then we realize that they are so flexible and lovable.

There are also times on your graduation when several of your 'not so good friends' come up to you and apologize for their behavior. You are taken aback and fall short of words. They hug you and you hug them, a generous gesture to forgive and forget and also communicates that you were and will be a great friend. So you see friends and not so good friends hugging one another. Everything is possible on graduation.

Robert Gallagher said that change is inevitable. As you stand on the brink of moving into life beyond Sherubtse, change will be inevitable! It is inevitable that structures and processes and relationships will change in their day to day lives. It is inevitable that you will face new challenges and it is inevitable that things may seem a little different in the years ahead. Yes, life definitely is going to become a little “shaken up and stirred”.

But as we look back the journey- a journey that started out with hesitant, tentative steps, we see just how far you, dear seniors have progressed. It has been an honor and a privilege being part of your journey and one which has been embedded with wonderful memories. Allow me to take you all back to the point from where this journey began, so tighten your seat belts dear senior because we care going to leap across time…remember your first day in class PP (Pre-primary) where you didn't have a single friend and all you did in the class was sucked your thumb and starred at one another.Then you actually started to feel the weight of the books when you are in class eight, the heavy pressure and importance of education is perceived only when you are in class 10. Every biting nails whether you would qualify or not, then when in class 12, I bet you worked the hardest  because deep down you knew life is soon going to get tougher. After class 12 you all were rewarded, proudly you became a SHERUBTSEAN that you will always be.

From the first hesitant, excited, nervous step you started form the college gate, hoping to rock your college life till this very moment where you are sitting in the same auditorium where you first got oriented and registered somewhere in the corner or back or front is the place where you first sat. See, the time has just flown by, I bet you are packed well with all the memories you have made here. I would like to share one example of team spirit that is very unique about Sherubtse, football for sure is like an oxygen to human here, I was witnessing one of the matches where a team was losing- quite significantly and the referee seemed to be making some tough calls. The stakes were high, shoulders were rounded and frustration levels were rising. A senior was sitting nearby. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out firmly “check si…you can do it!” followed by the teams name. Just that! And that was all it took. Heads lifted, shoulders straightened and the team played their hearts out. I don’t recall the final score who won and who lost- it didn't seem that important. But I do recall how those words encouraged them and they played their best game ever.

So from the moment when you cheered your team in the various x,y,z football tournaments to the moment where you played your best match just to stand up to your supporter’s expectation, from losing your real name to getting new nick names, from the first walk you went to last walk you will be going, from the heavy credits in Cafeteria to the long bills in Shonzey, from the first time you came to this stage to the awesome graduating night last Saturday, form your first love to the last final proposes, from Youngphula to Pangthang, from the limited restaurants such as NP, Galaxy  and Mountain to 45 minutes lift to Trashigang, from the trips to works, from singing to dancing, from viva to presentations to assignments, from internal exams to main, from the various SSU, Singye Karm  night to class picnics, from the welcome dinners to the farewell dinners, from balancing time well between movies and books to walks, from your first stipend to the last, from you first friend here to the best friend now, from bunking classes to photocopying notes, from the so called scope bench to the lazy afternoon classes, from marching in the ground to running from class to class in search of your classroom, from your first module tutor to whole faculty now…brace yourself well when you leave all these behind.

It is these memories Ladies and Gentlemen; you will seek refuge when you miss Shercol. So, I would like to pay tribute to each and every one, you have all left and will continue to leave an inevitable legacy of excellence, achievement and a fine ethos and tradition for generations to come. I believe that the vast majority of you stroke to work to your potential you aimed high, you set your goals for the most part, and you not only achieved them, but in fact surpassed them.

So ladies and gentlemen, as you face and tackle the inevitable changes, hold true to yourself. Remember to hold onto your value system, your work ethic and most importantly your humanity. It is these qualities that will guide you further on your journey. Today’s achievements may fade and even be forgotten. The applause may become a distant memory and your certificates and medals may gather dust on the shelf or in your drawer. But you will always be remembered for caring enough, for helping someone, for making someone special and appreciated and for being the kind of person that others enjoys spending time with. 

Your life is remarkable occasion – I have no doubt that you will rise to it! So this is good bye seniors, we will miss you. One way or another, you have had quite an impact on this place and you will leave quite a gap here. But we won’t have any shortage of memories. We will remember you for being supportive. We will remember you for being adventurous and if we are honest, we will also remember you for being always someone who could be looked upon. Most of all we will remember you for being a great person to have around. I wish each one of you on behalf of Sherubtse family, immense luck, laughter, happiness and love in each and every step of your life. You have worked hard to get your degree; it’s time to take a bow. Congratulations Graduate! I bet your future is strong and bright, make sure you hop well and smartly. Thus, make sure you don’t just survive but LIVE your life and most of all serve the country intelligently, just like any Sherubtseans would do. My intention today is not to remind you all that it is time for you to leave but just to let you know that you will be remembered in a special way. Thank you indeed and do shine on.  

                                                                              Speech Courtesy: Ms. Sonam Choden, 2011