Graduating

Location: On my bed at home

Music: Across The Earth- Hillsong United- This Is Our God

Mood: Reminiscing and Sad, but Happy too

 

June 23rd, 2009. What a night! In few days, I will be a graduate of Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School. I used to live in Toronto, and before that I lived in Carrolton, TX, and before that, Zurich, Switzerland. This is the longest I’ve stayed in the same area- which is 5 years. So I wasn’t like the kids who grew up here and are graduating with the people they’ve know since they’ve been in diapers.

Nevertheless, I’ve known these guys (and girls)for 4 years (that’s a long time for me:)). I’ve shared Science Olympics, Earth Hour, 30 Hr Famine, Spring Fling, Semi, Fame, Chemistry Show, Mole Day and Ecobuzz. I’ve cried with them through losing people and I was there with them for hours locked up during lock down. I laughed with them when we played truth or dare in the Cafe. I was with them when we stole cookies from Counting on You with Miss Habibzadah. Most of all, I remember days with my best friends of a ll freaking TIME- Leena Kuruvilla(who I need to see desperately or I’ll kill my self) and Michelle Tat (who is the most beautiful girl in the universe!); and singing Take It All and Tell The World in French and Geology! I remember Grade 10 Science with Shilpa and Raina (I swear, I’m going to marry them both!) and how our labs were utter failures- but more fun than all my senior science classes put together (yes people, even more than Chemistry!!!). And I’ve gone from hating Calculus with a PASSION to loving it; and Allison, I love you for staying with me the whole time- you’re an amazing and wonderful friend.

I have to give credit where it is due. There are some people I have to thank  because without them, I would either have blown something up, killed someone (including myself) or been admitted to the hospital for a mental breakdown.

First and foremost, I have to thank God- I don’t know how I survived without having a God who understood me more that anyone. He was always there, even at times I didn’t want him- but he knew I needed him. So Thank You.

My wonderful, quirky, dear sisters in Christ who kept me sane, or as sane as Merin Chacko could possibly be: Leena Kuruvilla, you’re not around anymore- but I know if I need you, you’ll always be there. Michelle Tat, you saved me from going insane- literally, and I can’t thank you and Leena enough for it. Shilpa Varghese, the voice of reason in my head, who always prayed for me and is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Reena Kuruvilla, I love you soo much- you are my big sister, and you’re a wonderful role model, Chechi:) And of course, my dear cousins who are my rock and my foundation; Nissy Sunny, and Stacey Mathew- I will love you till the end of the world- just because you rock my world. No one can understand me the way you two do- and no one ever will… these two are my future bridesmaids, and godmothers of my kids!<3

Thanks also to my dear friends who were always there and Fletcher’s would’ve been empty without you. Allison Wong, another voice of reason- but one who helped me realize that I can do what I want to do, not what is expected of me. Thank you. Rabeena Ali, Sagar Patel and Razina Gilao, my first friends at Fletcher's, I’m NEVER going to forget you. Burhan Hussein, one of my best friends, and so funny that it’s annoying- but great. And a genius. You realize things about me before I do… like what the heck!:P Manik Choudhry and Brenda Trinh- my math buddies, we make the best ice cream and you know it! Brenda my date for Prom:P, you’re so amazing- and totally genius. Tej Dhami and Swar Meher , I hope I can have a beautiful relationship like yours- God Bless. Laura Brown, you are outright crazy. I don’t know what the hell goes on inside your head. But I love it! Enjoy your rocks:P Raina Desai, I’m going to call you every week and bug you but I don’t care, I’ve seen you since grade 10- and I’m not gonna let our friendship break. Thank you for just being there. Sloane Martin, my twin- Austria Hungary! All the way! And we both know that we joined and decided to take over the world, it was already done. And your siblings rock, but still manage to drive me insane. Janessa Scantleburry, you’ve got the most beautiful voice, and an even more beautiful heart. Take care of your self. Antoinette Mullings, Thanks for being you and not anyone else, just you. All the damn time. :)Minhaz Khaiser, Xinou Gao and the rest of the Bleach GROUP! Byakuya rules, but I got Ukitake… so we’re good. <3

Keziah Chan and Jennifer Phung (my #1 Green Friend), you’re my little kids- you’ve got another year to go- so be careful and take care! I know you’re both going places. Thanks also to Henry Hong, stay pokish forever!:P Fahd Ali, you’re the nicest and sweetest guy I’ve met, Thanks for driving me back from the hospital when I was too sick, and for handling the news well even when I practically thrust it in your face- I truly am sorry about that. Brandom Zambri aka Russian- you brighten up my day. Ankur Mahajan, Michael Le, and countless others who poke me- I love you all. Manik Choudhry, aka MC- You’re two of kind, and just magically amazing like that. Ankit Sareen, (Father)- you’re just hilarious, and I love you for it. Mahtab Alam, self proclaimed “that sexy guy with sexy pimples”… just wow. You’re on something and I want some!:Patrick Ho-Ly, Filip Zubac, and Chris Ghouchandra(I spelled that wrong I know), you’re all unique and appalling at times. I’m gonna miss you three just for that. Farrah Mohammad, Chemistry 11 was magic thanks to you, and Vincent Santiago- who endured Twilight with me and Sumaira Saif, and ended up listening to my ramblings in 3 semesters of Math. And of course, lets not forget everybody’s scapegoat- the much loved Rutwik Brambhat. You’re not getting you’re test back, but you’re so high and you know it. Thank you all.

My dear Biology 4: we had so much fun!: Dianagris Balakrishnan, you’re such a beautiful person, both inside and out. Remember staying up all hours finishing our History of DNA Timeline? Or Tokio Hotel? OR MY ROOM FULL OF ART? Mohsin Khan, my dear friend with the awesome hair. And Jordan John, my dear “grandfather”, my mallu who’s always there for me, even though I insult him every chance I get, you rock! As for Chemistry 12, you know I won the bet. I’m never going to forget that Ms. Yen thought you two were gay! (Yea I probably shouldn’t have told the world that)

Now the people who’ve been my role models- my teachers from Day 1 to Graduation, I don’t know what I’d do without you. And besides, all the 9’s and 10’s thought I was one of you!

Mrs. Bevan, Mrs. Filliter and Mr. Berwik, my STEP Sponsors- you guys are such dedicated people and I can’t imagine better role models for the future generation of environmentalists. You’ve taught me well:D 

Mrs. M. Thomas, Ms. Mighty and Mrs. Bent-Thomas, thanks for all your support for Christian Fellowship, I’ll miss you. Ms. Lujen, Ms. Yu, Mr. Desjardins, Mr. Devereux (see why I couldn’t say just Mr. D?), Philosophy Club and School Reach was great and fun and I loved it. Thank you for having me, even with my crazy schedule. Mr. Miller, you taught me to get a backbone and stand up for myself. And about falling filing cabinets. Enough said.

On to my third home, second only to the STEP Room and Science Pod, Math Department! Miss Habibzadah, aka Miss Evil. I’m proud to be H-brain-washed. You’re so weird and awesome at the same time, and I keep saying awesome, I’m running out of words to use. And you made Math… well fun, and Hitler has stuck around for the longest time ever- I can’t get rid of the name! Don’t you dare forget Hitler, Baby Beluga and Tardy Flipper, you know you love us. Mrs. Charest, you make me grow up and it was pleasure to learn from you, even if it flew over my head. I guess I am a Physics kid at heart, eh? One day I’m going to look back and remember that I wouldn’t have made these choices without your advices. Mr. and Mrs. Ferneyhough- “We all use math everyday” Fine. You’ve proved it correct and I bow to your awesomeness, happy? I’m gonna miss you two, so take care and keep Nspiring! hehe:) Mrs. Noguchi, I don’t remember my mom, but I were to have an idealized vision of her in my head, its you. I’ve laughed, and cried with you, and we’re so keeping in touch. And the rest of math, you rock, just like math does!

I’m ending with Science because I could probably wax eloquently over the awesomeness of our science pod. Mr. Krstovic- you are an inspiration. I’m awed at how hard you work for us students. You inspire the inner chemist in all of us, not matter how small it is, and you leave an everlasting mark on us all. Besides, its hard to forget a teacher who lit himself on fire!Mrs. Sobec, my quirky teacher- you and your funny analogies that I’ll never forget. You’re one of those people its easy to talk to and just let it out; thank you for just listening to me when I thought I would blow up. Mr. Lippa, you’re the second craziest teacher I’ve met, and you made me love a science that I had a hard time understanding. You’re one of the best I’ve ever had. Mr. Whisen, you show more grace and understanding in teaching than teachers who may have more experience or knowledge than you. And you’re hilarious. Mrs. Regular- I wasn’t sure how you'd be taking over Mr. Lippa’s class- but you were wonderful and all my doubts were wrongly placed- because you taught and you pushed us along till we were the best we could be. Mr. Ellis, I’ve never seen a person with such composure and calm collectedness, even in situations where I know I’d be beating up someone. Mrs. Petrychkovych, you’re a mad scientist at heart and I love your dedication to making Science open and wonderful to the entire student body. Working with you was one of my favourite opportunities this year. Ms. Yen, you’re an awesome teacher and I always left your class laughing at your wit. Amazing. Period. Mr. Killins, you’re probably not going to read this or even remember me- but you’ll always be the teacher that could never stop smiling even when he was mad as hell. And the rest of the science department, I’ve worked with all of you in one way or the other, be in Science Olympics, Chemistry Show or Culture Show, and I have nothing but respect for each and every one of you.

So there it is, my life at Fletcher’s in about 2000 words. I love you all so much, and I can’t believe I’m leaving you all. So many moments that defined my high school career, and now its over and I’m kind of lost. Soon I’m going to leave and I’m going to have to do this all over again, like all of you, except to a bigger extreme.

Before I finish, I have to thank Joel Houston from Hillsong United. He is my biggest role model and he runs I Heart Revolution. He’s changing the world right now, and that’s what I want to do. He’s the person that I want to be, the person who said my signature words, “If our generation is remember for iPods, myspace and YouTube, we failed.” I know we’re bigger than that, we’re going into the real world, and our great teachers and counsellors have prepared us as much as possible.  Now its my turn to show them that we can make a difference. I promise you, I am going to change the world, so you better do it too. I swear to you, I won’t disappoint you, I’m going to make you proud of me, you’ve all supported me so much, that I can’t bear to let you down. Just watch, I’m going to make you proud.

Love always,

Merin Chacko