The Ceremony of Twelve

10:00 AM

Today is The Ceremony of Twelve. I have butterflies in my stomach. I have a feeling that if I receive a bad assignment, my parents will be disappointed in me. I have a thousand questions running through my mind, but I can only focus on one; What is going to be my assignment?

12:00 PM

I am now a few hours away from the ceremony and my nervousness has amplified tenfold. I can’t stop thinking about what my assignment will be. I have been all over the place when it comes to my assignment. I have tried many different things so, unlike others, I have no idea what my assignment might be. I hope it's not a coal miner, or farmer, or an elderly supervisor.

01:30 PM

We are now getting ready to go to the ceremony and my parents keep on saying “Don’t be nervous,” but I just can’t help it because this might be the most important day of my life. If I receive an assignment my parents don't like, I’ll be a disappointment to my family.

06:00 PM

I was going to bring my notebook to the ceremony, but my parents told me not to, so I didn't. To be honest it was only half as nerve-racking as I thought it would be until I got called to the podium. As soon as The Chief Elder called me onto the stage, my nervousness quadrupled. Finally, the answers to all my thoughts and questions will be revealed.

The Chief Elder said that I would be a doctor. Thank the Lord! I always thought doctors were cool, so I was so thankful when I was told I would be a doctor. Could you believe it… Me, a simple boy stuck in these borders, as if I were livestock, is titled ‘Doctor’. When I sat back down, I glanced at my parents, and they smiled at me! I haven’t asked them if they are proud of me yet because we just came home not too long ago, but I’m sure they are.