As an ordinary genius

Ethan stood at the gates of his university, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. It felt strange to be back after all this time. The campus looked the same—the sprawling lawns, the brick buildings, the chatter of students rushing to their lectures. But for Ethan, everything felt different.

He had just wrapped up his internship, and now he was here to collect his final results and officially close this chapter of his life.

The day Ethan had worked so hard for had finally arrived—graduation. The campus was alive with excitement, filled with students in caps and gowns, families beaming with pride, and professors looking satisfied with another year's accomplishments.

Ethan stood in front of the mirror in his dorm room, adjusting his cap nervously. Raj walked in, already dressed in his gown.

"You ready, man?" Raj asked, clapping Ethan on the back.

"Yeah, I think so," Ethan said, glancing at himself. "Hard to believe it's actually happening."

"Four years of blood, sweat, and tears," Raj said dramatically. "And now we're free."

Ethan chuckled. "Well, free to join the rat race, anyway."

After that two went to two separate halls. 

The graduation ceremony was held in the university's main auditorium. Ethan sat among his classmates, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. He spotted Aria and Nathan a few rows ahead and waved.

When the dean stepped up to the podium, the hall fell silent.

"Today, we celebrate not just academic achievement but resilience, determination, and growth," the dean began. "Each of you has a unique story of perseverance, and today marks the beginning of your next chapter."

Ethan sat in the crowded auditorium alongside other graduating students, each of them nervously chatting or staring at the stage where the university staff were handing out envelopes.

Ethan felt a lump in his throat as the names were called one by one. When it was his turn, he walked across the stage, shaking hands with the dean.

"Ethan Queen," the dean announced.

When his name was called, Ethan walked up to the stage, his heart pounding in his chest. The dean handed him his envelope with a warm smile.

Ethan took his diploma, his heart swelling with pride.

"Congratulations, Mr. Grayson," the dean said.

"Thank you," Ethan replied, taking the envelope and walking back to his seat.

He waited until he was outside, standing under the shade of a large tree, before carefully opening the envelope. His eyes scanned the paper, stopping at the line that read:

BSc Honors in Computer Science – Second Lower Class (2:2)

Ethan exhaled slowly, his lips curving into a small smile. He knew it wasn't the top distinction, but it was a degree he had worked hard for. A degree that represented years of effort, late nights, struggles, and growth.

"I did it," he whispered to himself.

As the sun began to set, Ethan walked through the campus one last time. The familiar sights and sounds brought back a flood of memories—his first day, the nights spent in the library, the moments of doubt, and the triumphs, however small.

He wasn't graduating at the top of his class, but he was proud of himself. Proud of the journey he had taken and the person he had become.

"On to the next chapter," he thought, smiling as he walked away from the place that had shaped so much of his life.