Grads

Its the time of the year again where we say goodbye to our graduating friends. Celebrated by Father Andrew Hamilton, the graduation mass on 24th november was a bitter sweet affair for the 17 cosduans graduating this december.

Cosdu wishes all the best to our graduants as they close this chapter of life as a student and start a new one in the workforce.

this are some things that our graduants would like to share with us.

Fabian Ooi

I remember dropping by the COSDU booth during Clubs and Societies Day in my first year in university. I also remember attending a couple of Welcome Day masses but I only really started attending COSDU more regularly this year. I wished I had made it a point to start attending much earlier. Then I would get to know all the nice COSDU people much better. The sessions have been most insightful and have made a couple of good points to carry along on the journey that life is. I graduate at the end of the year and return home to begin working life. I am slightly apprehensive about the future challenges but also am very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Anyway, I wish everyone all the best in their undertakings and hope we'll have the chance to keep in touch as well. God bless.

Hobart Kho

graduation "gra-j&-'wA-sh&n" noun 2a : the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma

As usual, the dictionary only focuses on the physical definition of words and neglects its significant attachments.

Awhile ago, I spent some time on a day's retreat with other graduate to-bes of whom a handful have already celebrated their ceremonies. The schedule involved an important period of quiet self-reflection whilst supposedly trudging our own paths diverging from the house. During this time, we were requested to each pick up an object that best symbolized our emotions surrounding graduation. Initially tailing the trail of the majority, I eventually turned the opposite direction to pursue uniqueness somewhat.

Returning to a hearty lunch, we then proceeded to reveal the stories of our show and tell objects. Much to a certain degree of discomfort and disgust of some of my audience, I produced the first object that I stumbled upon ... a seed ... which characterized questionable hygienic properties.

I admit its lack of originality, but every time I think of graduation, I picture an imagery of a toddler picking up his or her first steps. To me, it's just another phase in life ala American Pie's 'the next step'. A phase of life when the opportunities and the whole at large threaten to drown you whilst all you can and have to do is focus on yourself, trying to find the qualities within you to make those baby steps, hopefully finding your place and celebrate silently when you do even when the intimidating world ignores you ... you could 'make it big' and announce your presence with a big bang ... but I don't really hope for that. I, myself, am still currently facing difficulties deciding my next steps amidst the flurry of last minute applications. Then there is the million dollar question of "how am I going to consolidate my studies with what I believe in my religion?" It is not an easy task resolving the possibility of the application of controversial sciences added with the stress of getting re-accustomed to the world as a graduate. Yet, in these moments of seeming chaos, despite the uncertainty of discovering 'my calling in life,' I'm at peace at where I am. Just don't ask me why.

"and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should" - The Desiderata.

You thought the story ended there didn't you? I just started. The next object that struck me along my path that day was a sign that read 'The Boulevard'. For reasons only eight other individuals will understand, it immediately surfaced memories of my road trip to Gippsland just prior to the retreat. This triggered my hyperactive mind to trace back to older road trips and my C.O.S.D.U. yesteryears. Most overseas students share the whole story of "it was hard leaving home for Melbourne ... leaving friends ... leaving family ... and hardships of so on and so forth”. Mine represents the opposite spectrum of experiences. I had it easy. I came with my cousin and a reasonable bunch of my classmates from home ... some of which I've shared a decade of my life with ... and I was only seventeen then. Furthermore, due to certain dark tales of my history back home, I was overjoyed to break away from that past. It was also these tales that saw my spirituality growing just before I left for Melbourne.

I had hardly arrived for a week when I serendipitously chanced upon Sister Theresa handing out flyers outside St. Francis. Initially, I dismissed the yellow piece of paper shoving it into my pants pocket. I was later 'persuaded' to attend one of their meetings. To say that C.O.S.D.U. was love at first sight for me would be a lie. I admit it was never really the sessions that drew my attention. This may seem slightly blasphemous but I am less attracted to finding God amidst preached words than in observing the often overlooked simplicities in life. A smile. A hug. The embrace of friendship. It was never the place and time that mattered . It was the people ... the very people upholding the essential fundamental, 'family away from home'. These perennial emotions guaranteed my perfect attendance for the past three years or so ... closer to four. That was, is, and always will be why I love C.O.S.D.U.

The older members might remember the drama during my first year when I was given the opportunity to pursue a medical degree under full scholarship in Kuala Lumpur's IMU (International Medical University). I shan't divulge the details that lead to the offer. Suffice to say, I was a lucky boy or so I thought. The details of the reasons for my return to Melbourne and what happened in the interview remained vague for years. I guess its okay for me to confess now. One of the questions the interviewers asked was this:

"What will you do if you don't get this IMU scholarship?"

"Go back to Melbourne. I don't need you," I almost blurted. I could've invented some model answer expressing severe disappointment if I failed to receive the scholarship and that I would persevere in alternative pathways to pursue medicine.

It was here when I committed interview suicide.

What I replied was somewhere along the lines of me being happy where I was in Melbourne and that I appreciated the opportunity but I would be fine if someone else deserving was awarded with the scholarship. The look on their faces was priceless. The lack of enthusiasm and drive surprised them more than me. It was then I knew I had screwed up the interview. I hardly tried to answer the following questions and from that point on, it only went downhill. If my mum who had flown all the way with me that day were to find out what happened in the room, she might have disowned me. Peculiarly, inside, I couldn't help but rejoice silently throughout the whole ordeal. To this day, I can't fully explain such overrule of disappointment, but I knew somewhere within, C.O.S.D.U. played a part. I'm not saying I blame C.O.S.D.U. for that, I'm thanking them. I look back at all my years in Melbourne and I know everything has been as it should be. I'm a firm believer that you feel right inside when you're doing the right thing ... when your're at peace with your actions ... and that's how I know that how I got to where I am now and why it feels right. Many have asked me whether I'm leaving Melbourne for good. For the reasons I have just mentioned, I know it's not my time yet to do so my place is still here in Melbourne ... for now. How about the possibility of me leaving C.O.S.D.U?

Let me digress a little. The last time I met Father Robin Koning, he addressed me as an ex-C.O.S.D.U.an because he knew I was graduating. I was about to respond when Thai took the words out of my mouth for me:

"Once a C.O.S.D.U.an always a C.O.S.D.U.an"

C.O.S.D.U is still where my heart remains.

Some individuals claim that I've done a lot for C.O.S.D.U.

They've got it all wrong.

It's C.O.S.D.U. that has always been there for me.

Deacon Inyoung Cho SJ

On 2nd December, some of the Cosduans attended Inyoung's Ordination to the Diaconate. Together with Inyoung, 2 other Jesuits - Thomas Renshaw and Sacha Bermudez-Goldman - shared the steps they took towards making their decision to follow their calling.

In the words of another Cosduan, this was how their the Ordination mass and their sharing ministered to the congregation.

It was by far one of the most moving mass-es I have ever attended. When Tom shared about how he quit his legal job to respond to a calling, I was truly overwhelmed. When Inyoung shared about how his mum became a Catholic "to understand her son" (I quote), I could feel myself holding back tears. And when I saw Sasha tear throughout the others' speeches, a very moving, touching and undescribable feeling overcame me.

I can't explain the amount of respect and joy I have for these 3 young men, the respect I have for Inyoung's mum (who cried when her son addressed her), who have surrendered their own earthly desires, to obey their Father's will. Their obedience, persistance and their hunger for God -so evident.

Congratulations Deacon Inyoung Cho SJ! Thanks for mentioning Cosdu in your thank you speech. All the best in your future endeavors.