Pandas of the Past
This article will be about yearbook writings. Since the phrase ‘yearbook writing’ is too long, and since I’ll have to use the term very frequently here, I decided to make use of a keyword to replace it. So, whenever I intend to say ‘yearbook writing’, I will use the shortcut ‘panda’ in the following two paragraphs. Please read accordingly.
At least a few times in your academic life, you are obliged to exchange pandas with friends. The idea is to symbolize friendship, and signify how wonderful the time you spent together has been. The challenging point is pandas usually take more space than you would expect, so you would have to shorten them to fit the space allowed. Otherwise you’ll trouble your friends by making them cut your panda, which would not be very kind. Another problem would be to lose a panda given to you. That is why it is not recommended to put pandas in your pocket, because you may just forget where you put them! Both in this case, and in the case of failing to sit down and prepare a cute panda for your friends, they would feel ignored and unwanted.
Pandas concern senior students both in high school and university. If you’re a university senior, between all the stuff you have to do, like doing master applications, preparing CV’s, writing long theses, etc., you have to spare some effort for pandas. The situation is not much different for a high school senior preparing for the ÖSS exam. Although this may seem like a lot of work, people don’t complain, because they know that pandas are very valuable, and as years make them old, they will become even more exciting, as well as meaningful. Everyone wants to look back at pandas to see their reflections!
Well, I’ve had my fun in the middle of tens of yearbook writings waiting for me to be written for tomorrow morning. It’s funny. We’re giving each other short texts to summarize what we feel for each other, and if we don’t watch it, we begin repeating ourselves, putting down the same words in the writings for different people. So many people, but so similar things to feel for them.
Never mind, don’t listen to me. Tomorrow night we celebrate. At the eve of the New Year, I wish you the best of everything: as a conclusion of this writing full of pandas, and books that stand for past years and ending eras.

Efe Peker (POLS/IV)