Love, Friendship and the Year 2005

It’s the last day of 2005. For many, they see this day as New Year’s Eve, more like a part of the New Year’s Day celebrations. But looking at a different angle, today’s the 365th day of the year, the last day before 2006 comes, and a special day for us to look back to those wonderful and horrible events of the past 12 months.

Along with the carols and Christmas merrymakings, we actually had to do a lot of school work last year’s yuletide holidays. Nevertheless, the new year came with our hearts and mind filled with joy and hope (and “excitement” for our coming exams). The second semester ended with a series of exams, exams we never thought would end up with all of us passing and making good grades. Then, we had our summer semester. I turned 18 and was crowned King of Nerdovia. These were glorious times for all us, indeed.

After a brief respite, we resumed classes, now as second years. The 1st sem was really really challenging. The schedule was hectic and the subjects were very taxing. Aside from academic strain, some issues swept the class adding to the stress on our backs. At these points, our strengths were really put to test. Then, the end of that stormy crisis came at last. Turning points, decisive moments and defining changes marked the end of our 1st semester.

We had more or less a month to recover and recharge before the start of the second sem, which, thank God, was much less “toxic” than the previous one. Then, before we actually know it, we were again having our Christmas party and enjoying the year’s happiest holidays.

However you put it, 2005 is just one year. We still have five more years to finish med school and perhaps a lot more years to become the doctor we really want to be. But, as in all the years of our lives, 2005 definitely had its impact. In the past 365 days, our lives, or if not, at least mine, have been changed completely. There were changes so monumental that to undo it now would be impossible. Lessons were indelibly engraved in our hearts. The year 2005 certainly have brought a lot to all of us: laughter and tears, glories and failure, and, most important of all, friendship and love.

The last two things undeniably rocked my world. I had known several amazing friends this year. For the first time, I’ve been closest to people beyond my family. We shared a lot, from mundane stuff to the profoundest of things, happy days and the saddest ones. The year was filled with our laughter but was also marked by grief and tears. In fact, after a long long time, I have cried, I shed genuine tears. And from all those events, I learned a lot. And these lessons, I hope, I may never forget in the years to come.

First of the many lessons would be this: one needs friends, to live a life without one would be hell. My friends have been my strength in all those difficult times. In them I have found solace, shelter from all my fears and worries. The Holy Scripture conspires by saying “A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found such…hath found a treasure.”

Friendship is not just about being close. It’s neither about staying the longest nor sharing the best. It’s not measured on whom you’ve known first, or who delights you most. This would be my second lesson. The point is really not on what you get on that friendship. It’s really, technically, not a give-take relationship. Sacrifices may be required but a true friendship survives all these things. It goes beyond mundane pains, it goes beyond differences. Friendship’s forged and closeness’s fostered by trust and openness. Words and actions are of course helpful. However, it is in those silent conversations, those times we were together but saying nothing to one another, that meant a lot. Friendship goes beyond spoken agreement.

The last and most important lesson I learned is about love. Love, indeed. I’ve always been cynical about love. I never trusted my feelings. Perhaps subconsciously, I’ve been dreaming to be the man who will conquer love, as they always say love conquers all. I never expected it to be a disastrous clash. From all those trying times, I’ve learned one lesson: love is not my nemesis but my strength. I have it with me, not as something shameful, but something I can be proud of, something I can share.

Looking back at all those lessons and events always brings a funny feeling in all of us. The immensity of such funny feeling may at some point be really hard to grasp. However, may it be for regret for all the mistakes and failures, happiness for all achievements and triumphs, or hope for the days to come, on the last day of the year, one can’t really help but just say “thank you.” Yes, I’m really grateful for all the things that happened: may it be those that caused me great pains or brought me immeasurable joy. I’m thankful for all the chances, challenges and changes. Thank you for all.

To end this, I quote the last stanza of the fourth part of the poem The Prince, the Knight, the Lady and the Friend. This collection of poems tells a story of a friendship and all the things the friendship endured. In the end, what mattered was their love for one another, love that kept their worlds turning.

“Despite all the sham and pain, veiled or stark
Life has its beauty, what we have to do or we have done
The sun may have set and left us in the dark
Just turn around, and we will face the rising sun.”

Good bye 2005 and all thumbs up for 2006! Happy New Year!