Tearful coming-of-age ceremony/TOS 25 - A farewell filled with love, gratitude, and apologies

Tears of joy glistened.
Tears of apology and gratitude flowed.
Tears of memories, regrets, and longing welled up as youth prepared to bid farewell to the school.

A ceremony — neither grand nor elaborate, but warmly intimate — marked the coming of age for 121 students of the Class of 2025 under the purple roof of Olympia. A school that, as Mrs. Lan Anh, Head of the Grade 12 Parent Committee, shared, “does not produce mass-trained products following a fixed mold,” where the lessons Olympians receive today “are not numbers, formulas, or essays, but life lessons — lessons on kindness, love, and appreciation... learning to overcome difficulties, heal wounds, and gain the courage to move forward.”

 
A ceremony with moments of reflection before the play “Radiant Scars” — where the Grade 12 Olympians did not recount their own stories but held up a mirror reflecting the familiar feelings of hurt, mistakes, and love common to youth. Despite some awkward moments, forgotten lines, and missed cues, the play became a memorable farewell as “for the last time — we all stood together under the lights of the Olympia theater,” painting the final strokes on a gentle and radiant canvas of youth beneath the purple roof.

Memories of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 years... that each Grade 12 Olympian has shared with the purple school came alive through every frame and melody of the clip “Sorry and Thank You” - created to send to parents, teachers, friends... and to themselves.

 
In that moment, the song “Dream River” - composed by TOS 2025 students - rose with deep emotion:
"Now I see the dreams of those days
Carried by the wind, traveling with me to the horizon’s end..."

The moment all together tossed their graduation caps proudly marked their growth, closing the chapter of student life and opening new doors ahead. Then voices sang out. Hugs tightened. Eyes met one last time. Tears mixed with smiles. Quick whispers of “Have you signed mine yet?” “I’ll miss you so much”… all gently closing the brilliant chapter of youth for the Class of 2025 Olympians.

 
And farewell, TOS 2025. Thank you all for painting such a radiant and precious picture of youth together.

Olympia will always be here - a place that holds our memories, a source of inspiration and wings for your dreams, a “Home” where you can always return to love, protection, and happiness.