FEATURE • A Second Chance: Tribute to My Brother (Personal Post)

"I know, he is not genius, intelligent, high-performing student. He is only simple, shy-type and silent but he has proved to me as his elder brother that my expectation to him was wrong and just a mere underestimation."

 

This day was a day to celebrate. Finally, my youngest brother has graduated in college! As an elder brother, it is a joy to see my brother achieving this kind of sweet success. But before this achievement, my brother has almost killed his future...

Actually, my brother was that kind of person who did not want to study from elementary to high school. He has no interest with education. He even had better attendance at the computer gaming shop than in his attendance in school. He took all things for granted. 

I never saw him made his assignments nor even read his lessons. I never saw his notebooks be filled. I and my mother are always get called by his teachers to settle issues regarding his school behavior back then. Until one day...


The graduation day for high school was fast approaching until his teacher told him that he is the only student in class that will not graduate. That was the first time I saw my brother disappointed to any school-related issues. I saw him emptied, silent, gloomy and sad. 

It was unusual to see him like that considering it is a school-related issue which he never cared about. I went to the school to see the issues and requirements he should fulfill for his graduation. 

There was a lot. It was impossible to do all that in an instant. I was so blue seeing my bro so much affected for not graduating in high school, but what can I do? He was the captain of his own ship. It was too late when he realized his mistakes and the poignant situation of not being able to graduate after 4 years.


After sometime, his teachers gave him a second chance. They gave him special projects and assignments. He did community service. He cleaned the school room, faculty rooms, the school premises and name it for 1 week. He was like a school janitor.

 I pitied him. I saw him swallow his pride for a goal. This is the only way for him to pass and to graduate. I saw his dedication to fulfill his duty at the very last moments of chances he has received. 

I know he has learned a lesson. He graduated in high school not being able to march because of incomplete grades. So he took summer classes to complete his grades to be able to enter college.

Yesterday was his graduation day in college, I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. I never expected to see him graduate in college because of the behavior he showed us in high school. As an elder brother, of course I am emotional to see him belong to the crowd of graduates. 

In his college, I never heard bad feedback in his schooling. He goes to school everyday, he does his projects and he always asks me for help to finish his school requirements. After the bad experience and feeling he has encountered in high school, I know, he won't let it happen again. 

I know, he is not genius, intelligent, high-performing student. He is only simple, shy-type and silent but he has proved to me as his elder brother that my expectation to him was wrong and just a mere underestimation. Yes, I was really happy. My brother has proved me that everyone deserves a second chance and in that chance, there is a room for improvement! Happy graduation my bro, I am so proud of you!