Graduation Day, or, the end of the World as we know it

Warning: Melodrama ahead

The High School Graduation Day in Japan is a BIG DEAL. 

For those who have already gotten a place in a university, Graduation Day means they are basically set for life. The university that they enter will pave the way their life takes from now on. They just have to follow where the road leads.

For those who will go out into the working world, Graduation Day is bittersweet, but more bitter than sweet. From here on, they have to put away play, a relatively worry-free life, fun and games. At 18, they know they go out into the world to start right at the bottom - to be taught, forced, guided, shown how to navigate the extremely harsh working life of Japanese people. 

Most of the students I care about fall into the second category... and i can't deal with it. How can teachers sleep easy at night, sending their kids out into such a world? I'm probably being melodramatic, but it is truly hard for me to relinquish the care of my students to the world. I don't trust it, i never will, but i can't coddle and take care of them forever too.

So herein lies the paradox of teaching.: you are actually teaching them to leave you well, to live well, to make sure, get this, that they don't need you. AT ALL. Once someone becomes your student, you are teaching them how NOT to be your student. I wonder how and why  teachers all over the world haven't gone bonkers yet. 

Cos i'm feeling very much like it now.