그녀에게 졸업장은 단순한 종이 한 장 그 이상의 의미를 지녔다. ‘내가 가는 길이 옳은 것일까’ 고민에 빠졌던 수많은 밤과 그만큼의 시간을 통해 얻어낸 성취감들이 떠올랐을 것이다. 세인트 크리스토퍼스 국제학교 졸업장을 받아든 그 순간, 그간의 노력이 자랑스러운 결실을 맺었다.
샤이카 라피타에게 졸업은 인내와 용기를 통한 성장, 그리고 주변인과의 연대를 상징한다. 변함없는 믿음과 사랑을 보내온 가족, 그녀조차 깨닫지 못했던 잠재력을 끌어내 준 은사들, 의심이 들때마다 그녀를 격려해준 친구들이 있었기에 가능한 여정이었다.
샤이카 라피타는 세인트 크리스토퍼스 국제학교의 23개국 133명의 졸업생 중 한 명이자, 바레인전역 수천명의 학생들이 자축한 ‘2025년도 졸업반’의 일원이었다.
매년 5월 중순, 바레인의 사립학교들이 졸업시즌을 맞이한다. 졸업생과 학부모는 물론 친지들까지 초대돼 졸업을 축하하고 기쁨을 함께 나눈다. 장관, 학교장, 졸업생 대표 등의 축사는 특별한 순간을 더욱 뜻 깊게 만든다. 졸업식 행사는 바레인의 교육에서 빼놓을 수 없는 전통으로 자리매김 해왔다.
최근 들어서는 졸업식 다음 날 자랑스러운 졸업가운을 입은 학생들이 쇼핑몰을 거닐거나 레스토랑에서 자축하는 현상이 새로운 트렌드로 자리잡고 있다. 바레인 학생들이 한 챕터를 보내고 새로운 챕터를 맞이하는 방법이다.
Graduation in Bahrain Schools: A Walk Across the Stage, A Step Into the Future
by Habib Toumi
MANAMA: As her name echoed through the majestic hall and she stepped onto the stage, diploma waiting just ahead, Shaikha Latifa bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa beamed with pride and gratitude and her smile spoke volumes. It was not just about receiving a piece of paper. It was about every quiet victory, every difficult night, and every moment she wondered if it was all worth it.
Within fleeting seconds, a flood of memories raced to her head -tight deadlines, long hours of studies, and the unspoken pressure to keep going.
As the St Christopher’s School graduate came closer to her diploma, those memories did not feel heavy anymore. They felt like true power. Because hard work, even when no one sees it, eventually shows up—and hers had arrived in the form of a proud moment that she shared with her family, school and friends.
Each step she took across that stage represented more than academic achievement. It stood for growth, perseverance, courage, and connection. It honored the journey as much as the destination. For her, graduation was not a mere finish line. It was a milestone. A powerful reminder of how far she had come, and of the people who helped get her there. She thought of her family who stood by her with unwavering belief and love, of the teachers who never stopped pushing her potential, even when she could not see it herself, of her friends who motivated her even when she had doubts.
Shaikha Latifa was among the 133 students of 23 different nationalities from her school and the thousands of students across Bahrain who celebrated the graduation of their “Class of 2025”.
Starting mid-May, Bahrain’s private schools celebrate the graduation of their students with both pride, gratitude and fanfare. Parents and relatives are invited to join the joy and fun, the snaps, the laughs to “send off high school in style”, adding special charm to the celebrations that have become an integral part of the education landscape in Bahrain.
Speeches are given by high-profile personalities, including ministers, the school heads, and the valedictorians. The speeches are often well drafted and express pride, compassion and gratitude, turning special moments into even more meaningful events.
For the graduates, while the stage may have marked the end of one chapter, it was also the beginning of another. Armed with the lessons they learned, the strength they have built, and the courage they have earned, they were ready for the future. Because now they were fully aware that determination and perseverance lead to something powerful.
In a new trend, the day following the graduation, scores of graduates could be seen proudly wearing their gowns as they strolled in the major shopping centers of Bahrain, often heading to restaurants to continue their celebration.
