Every May, our tradition of cheering on graduating seniors with thunderous applause during commencement has always been a memorable moment for me ever since my freshman year. It is a celebration of how they made it through four years of all-nighters, research papers, and final exams, and at an institution like UC Berkeley, it is quite an accomplishment.
Now on the receiving end, in my own cap and gown, I have reflected on the past four years and what I have accomplished. On one of my graduation cards, it read "Congratulations on surviving four years at CAL and also surviving the spiritual journey!" It really struck me then that people were cheering for more than just academic achievement at the Greek Theatre every May. My leaders and friends were proud of me, not because I gave it my all during classes, but because I gave it all spiritually. Despite my mistakes and setbacks while trying to love and serve people, they're proud of how I got back up again and tried to be faithful. I think they were happy that I tried to lead a DT group, lived in the dorms to minister to freshmen, and tried to reach out to my friends, and although these things did not necessarily bring people to our church, I got to connect with God in a deeper way, realizing my purpose in God's work, and learning to give sacrificially. I was able to experience so much more than what could be summarized on a transcript or diploma—the care in a God-centered community, the opportunities in kingdom work, and a glimpse into the heart of God.
In a sense, through all the ups and downs of Christian living, I survived a leg of my spiritual journey, a time in which voices were simply saying to give up on Christian life or to strive after ambition and to prepare for my future instead of serving God. Yet even through all the failures and times when I gave into these voices, I finished—a job done. And in the end, I can't say that I graduated UC Berkeley with highest honors, but I know I had tried to give it my all, to give glory and honor to the Highest.