It’s November, and the second semester of sixth grade is coming to an end.
With the final exam today, my days of testing in elementary school are finally over.
It’s practically graduation.
These days, with a focus on modern education, the academic calendar has been sped up, so instead of taking the finals in December, we have them in November.
They even moved the graduation ceremony to December 31st, the very last day of the year, instead of February or March.
As the homeroom teacher handed out the test papers, she said,
“Okay, turn the test paper over~”
The first period exam is Korean.
Once I hit sixth grade, the level of difficulty definitely increased.
But honestly, I found the sixth-grade questions easier than the trivial lower-grade ones.
I quickly solved all the questions, double-checked everything, and spent the remaining time doodling on the back until the exam was over.
Finally, the Korean test time was up.
The teacher said,
“Alright, everyone, raise your hands, and the person in the back, please collect the papers with the front facing up.”
Break time.
Su-jin came up to me and asked,
“Do-hee, what’s the answer to number 17?”
“It’s number 4.”
“Ugh, I got confused and chose number 3.”
“It’s okay, just do well on the next one.”
“Ugh, it’s not okay. If I score over 95 this time, my mom promised to buy me a bag!”
“What kind of bag? A school bag?”
“No! Not a school bag, a handbag!”
“Oh.”
These days, elementary school kids are so concerned with fashion and brands at such a young age.
Some kids even brag about their clothes being designer brands.
Honestly, they all look cute and pretty no matter what they wear at this age.
Sigh.
It’s all because social media has spoiled them.
Second period is math exam time.
Once again, I quickly solved the test after receiving the paper and finished reviewing.
But now I have free time with nothing to do.
After doodling on the back, I got tired of that and started zoning out.
As I spaced out, I began to focus on the sounds around me.
The sound of the heater humming on the ceiling.
The sound of a magpie chirping outside.
The sound of kids scratching with pencils and mechanical pencils.
I looked around.
Kids working hard on their problems.
In front, the teacher was grading the Korean tests submitted earlier.
And the petite classroom designed for little elementary students.
Somehow, even though I was right there, I felt a pang of nostalgia.
Today really is the last time for a test in this little classroom.
While I was looking around, our eyes met with the teacher.
She smiled brightly at me with her eyes.
She drew something with her hand.
One, zero, zero.
Looks like I got a hundred on the Korean test again.
Even though I’ve hit hundreds every time, mistakes can happen at any moment, so I only felt at ease after hearing the teacher’s confirmation.
The next day.
After grading all the tests, the teacher compiled the scores and distributed the report cards to the class during the closing time.
“Come up in order; the first one is Suhyeon~”
“Number 2, Kang Junwoo.”
…
“Number 22, Inami, 23, Do-hee Lee.”
I stepped forward to receive the report card that showed my scores.
Korean, Math, Social Studies, Science, English — all 100 points.
Ah.
I nailed it perfectly.
Straight A’s from 1st to 6th grade.
I mean, it’s just elementary school tests, but I’m pretty moved.
Honestly, it’s more moving than winning the piano competition.
Because, let’s be real, competing with other elementary kids in a piano competition? Naturally, with an adult’s mind, I thought I’d crush it.
But, when it comes to tests, even if they’re elementary questions, getting them right or wrong feels like a competition against myself, I guess.
Maybe that’s what makes it even more touching.
Today, I should stop by home before heading to work.
After school, I got home, opened the front door, and called out for my mom.
“Mom!”
She answered from the kitchen.
“What’s up? Why are you home today? Aren’t you going to work?”
I casually tossed my backpack onto the living room floor and flopped down on the sofa, laughing non-stop.
“Heheh…”
I couldn’t hide my laughter.
Normally, I would have gone to show my report card to my mom and tease her, but today, I just wasn’t in the mood.
Mom came out from the kitchen, hugged me while I was lying on the sofa, and said,
“Why are you so happy, my daughter? Did you get them all right again?”
I kept smiling and silently showed her the report card I was holding in my hand.
Seeing the report card, Mom smiled, messed up my hair, pinched my cheeks, and showered me with kisses and praise.
After more than 10 minutes of laughing together, we finally calmed down.
With a lingering smile, Mom said to me,
“Do-hee, make a wish! Mom will grant it all.”
“It’s fine, what’s the wish?”
“Don’t be like that; our daughter scored 100 all through elementary school! Mom has to do something! Just say it already.”
Well, a wish.
I don’t really need anything.
Should we just plan a family trip abroad, maybe?
Ever since that school trip to Jeju Island, my wanderlust has been bubbling up.
Or maybe I could just say I won’t go to middle school and take the equivalency exam instead?
That sounds great!
“Mom, can I just not go to middle school?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I can just take the equivalency exam!”
In an instant, Mom looked serious and said to me,
“Anything but that.”
” Where is that even possible! If that’s the case, why call it a wish! ”
” Wish canceled. ”
“Huh?”
” Mom? ”
” Practicing must be tough, right? I need to get you some expensive tonics for your health. ”
” But what about the wish? ”
” You’re going to be late for your lesson. Hurry up and go to work. ”
” I miss taking the graduation exam. ”
” Should I take you? ”
” Hello? ”
” Let’s go, I’ll take you. ”
Mom didn’t even pretend to listen to me and just grabbed the car keys and headed out the front door.
Ah.
.
.
.
Before I knew it, there were less than two weeks left until graduation in December.
My homeroom teacher called for me, so I went to the staff room.
” Teacher, I’m here. ”
” Oh, Do-hee, you came? ”
” Yes. Why did you call me? ”
The teacher picked up the camera that was on the desk and started filming me.
” Do-hee, we are going to film a simple video for the graduation ceremony, can you look at the camera and say a word of congratulations to your friends? ”
” …Yes. ”
” Okay, everyone, congratulations on your graduation. ”
” Can you say a bit more? Let’s start from the beginning. ”
What should I say…?
” Everyone, congratulations on your graduation. I hope you all bloom full of potential. ”
” Wow, Do-hee speaks so well~ ”
” Thank you. Well then, I’ll be going now. ”
I tried to greet the teacher and leave the staff room.
” Ah, wait a moment, Do-hee! ”
When I turned around, the teacher pulled out a paper from the desk and handed it to me.
” What’s this? ”
The paper I received had ‘Graduation Student Representative Speech’ written on it.
” Uh, it’s last year’s student representative speech. ”
” Why are you giving that to me…? ”
” I hope you can do the student representative speech on graduation day. ”
” Me? ”
” Yep. ”
” Isn’t that usually the student council president’s job? ”
” The principal said this time he hopes it’ll be you, Do-hee. ”
” Huh? Why? ”
” Well, the principal’s mind is a mystery even to me, but you might know the reason better, right? ”
” No, I don’t know, teacher. ”
I really don’t.
” Then, can I assume you’ll be doing it? Please write the speech by this week and show it to me. You can reference last year’s speech or write it however you like. I need to go print some handouts for a moment! ”
The teacher quickly got up and left the staff room.
Ah.
That night…
” Sigh… Should I write this or not? ”
Should I just write something half-heartedly?
Should I just write casually?
I’m not even doing this because I want to.
Alright, just “Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Friends. Thank you, Juniors. With every meeting, there’s a farewell. I guess I’ll just write something like that.”
But while writing, I can’t help but wonder if this is really right.
I’m speaking on behalf of the graduates, after all.
Sigh… Well, I should write earnestly, so it becomes a good memory for the kids.
.
.
.
December 31st Graduation Ceremony
The graduation ceremony has begun.
After the usual opening ceremony and national ceremony, a video started playing on stage.
From the start, my face is plastered boldly on the screen.
The version of me on the screen speaks.
– “Hey everyone, congratulations on your graduation. I hope you all bloom with endless potential.” –
Yeah, this much isn’t even embarrassing anymore.
What’s wrong with my face? It’s just pretty.
After the video showcasing my awkward face finishes, there’s the principal’s congratulatory speech.
Followed by the current students’ graduation performances.
Next comes the speech of the current students.
And now it’s my turn.
The teacher hosting the event said:
“Following the speech from the current student representative, we will now hear from the graduate representative. Do-hee Lee, please come up to the podium.”
Phew.
I walked up to the podium and grabbed the microphone.
Everyone’s attention focuses on me as they look.
“Hello, I am Do-hee Lee, the graduate representative.”
“First of all, I would like to thank everyone present here.”
“It has already been six years since we entered school.”
“And looking back, six years feels like a short time.”
“By the way, I’m still 13 years old.”
People burst into small laughter.
“If I say that time feels short at my age, it may sound funny, but that childlike me, along with my friends, will become adults in six years.”
“Graduating from elementary school feels unexpectedly close to adulthood.”
“Yet, we still don’t know what we should do, and we’re more worried about the upcoming middle school life.”
“But we all know which direction we should be heading.”
“When asked about others’ futures, everyone asks the same question: ‘What’s your dream?'”
“As children full of possibilities for the future, finding our dreams might just be our first goal.”
“I hope all my friends can find the dreams they truly desire.”
“In that sense, I’ll conclude with a quote from Thomas Carlyle.”
“A person with a clear purpose moves forward even on the roughest paths.”
“I want to express my gratitude once more to everyone here, especially to the parents, and I truly love you all. Thank you.”
As I finished speaking and stepped down from the podium, people applauded.
I don’t know if it’s out of courtesy or if it was because it was worth clapping for, but I know one thing.
My dream is to be an idol.
I want to stand on stage as an idol.
I want to hear the audience’s cheers.
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