CHAPTER 17

Original (Published in "Lun's World"): 2004-06-01

Rewritten: 2025-05-21

After the graduation ceremony, Lun immediately took off his graduation gown and went home.

Lun finally put on his blue gown for his graduation ceremony. I wore a neat suit, held his hand and walked up the stage. In fact, I was afraid that he would suddenly run away. He never liked to follow the rules in such a solemn atmosphere. I took the certificate from the principal on his behalf. We accepted the congratulations together, then bowed to the audience. The photographer took a photo readily.

As soon as Lun stepped off the stage, he hurried towards the opened emergency door and left the school auditorium. It's not because he had finished high school, but because he no longer had to be trapped in that crowded, not-so-fun auditorium. I walked him towards the car, and he suddenly stood still, looking at me, as if asking something. It turned out that he was going to take off his graduation gown. To him, all this was bondage.

What is the significance of attending a graduation ceremony?

In terms of academics, he learned very little literal and science knowledge. In terms of interpersonal relationships, the school has always provided him with the best social environment, allowing him to recognize and practice many basic rules despite his natural defects. In terms of emotions and behaviors, he was well regulated, guided and corrected. For our family, the school provided the greatest help during the period when Lun was between the ages of five and nineteen. He was able to grow up in accordance with the direction set by society, and although the gap between him and teenagers of the same age was getting bigger, he was still on the same track.

On the other hand, we and the school, including classmates, teachers and teaching assistants, have gained a better understanding of students with special needs and been exposed to many new things through the unique process of getting along with Lun, and are therefore more able to accept the different circumstances that each person encounters in life. It is not just that Lun has completed a stage, but that the school colleagues have recognized this group's dedication and hard work over the years and are proud of it.

Of course, our family has a lot of feelings. The graduation ceremony is the summary of one stage and the starting point of another stage. After bringing Lun home that day, our family of four took some photos. The day after the graduation ceremony was a graduate dance, but Lun did not attend. Firstly, he did not have a female companion, and secondly, he did not like this kind of thing. Most importantly, he was taking a different path.

He was born at the end of the year, so he can stay in secondary school for another two years, giving us more time to make arrangements for his future. The teacher told us that he only needed to attend the graduation ceremony for one year and he would be exempt from the "ceremonies" in the future. Lun would definitely be very happy to accept such an arrangement.