For those of us who’ve gone through Engineering school, we understand that the five-year engineering journey becomes more manageable and enjoyable when shared with companions who understand the chaos of projects and exams in engineering school. And if you were in a small, growing university like mine that had one engineering course, this would probably sink in better since we were the only ones pursuing a 5-year degree course.

Amidst the crazy complex partial differential equations, mine survey and strength of materials calculations, and underground mine design classes, we learnt to find solace in our shared journey as classmates, leaning on each other for support, because wueeh, engineering school can drive you up the wall.

The camaraderie grew and we always looked forward to spending time together even outside class, and during our graduation, completing university felt like a great victory that we all celebrated together. Over the five years, we had looked forward to sharing the joy of overcoming academic hurdles, sleepless nights, and countless challenges. We couldn’t wait to dive deep into the professional world of mining engineering, maybe have families, and explore the world out there. Little did we know that the path that lay ahead would be marked by an unforeseen loss of some of us.

Within the span of just one year post-graduation, we experienced the devastating loss of not one, but two cherished former classmates. The pain and sorrow that followed were immense, casting a shadow over the beautiful memories we had held dear over time. As we slowly deal with the grief, the loss of these former classmates hugely reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the unpredictable turns it can take.

The once loud and jovial environment in our class group has been replaced by a somber reflection on the preciousness of life and our mortality as human beings. The sorrow has been profound but we have collectively found comfort in the knowledge that our lives are in the hands of the Lord who ordains the time to be born and the time to die, the time to mourn, and the time to dance.

Indeed, in His Sovereignty alone, we rest!