By Aung Kyaw Thant
Friends who have been bound by deep ties for over 40 years gathered to hold reunions about twice a year. I was only able to attend one of the gatherings held in 2025. I heard that only about eight friends attended the first meetup.
The second reunion was held in December 2025. I attended that gathering. At that time, a total of eleven friends attended: five living in Thanlyin and six outside Thanlyin. Although some friends wanted to attend the reunion, they could only drop by for a short while before having to leave due to family matters and office issues. Due to work commitments, others could only make it just as the gathering was about to end. Whatever the case, the very fact that they showed up at all is a testament to the bond of our friendship spanning over forty years.
Whether the gathering is grand or simple, and whether the hospitality and catering are lavish or modest, does not truly matter. The main purpose is simply the longing to see and meet the friends with whom we attended Yangon University (Botahtaung Campus) over forty years ago. The institution was transformed from the Regional College (1) under the Ministry of Education in 1984. Currently, it has been transformed into the National Management Degree College. Most of us started learning higher education at the Botahtaung Campus of Yangon University in 1985. So, we missed the chance to become students of the Regional College 1.
These friends once spent the carefree, joyful days of their youth together at the Botahtaung Campus. Not only did we study together, but we also actively and merrily participated in various student societies and group activities. Rather than reminiscing about those youthful endeavours all alone, gathering with old friends to share fond memories and dig up the past feels as though time – which is steadily marching towards old age – is paused for a brief moment. Returning once more to the vitality of our youth and rejuvenating our spirits can only truly happen in that very place and moment when friends reunite.
Now, some of my friends have become prominent business owners. Some are retired military officers. Some are government officials. Some are merchants and brokers. Some are school teachers. Some are media professionals and artistes. Some, unable to run businesses for various reasons, are carrying on their family’s traditional trades, navigating through life in all sorts of different ways. They are struggling to survive as much as possible. One thing is certain, though: none of our friends has given up on life just yet.
In August 2026, another friends’ reunion was held in Thanlyin. I was unable to attend this gathering. Even though my friends persistently invited me, I had to miss this one due to the pressure of work commitments. However, I felt delighted looking at the photos my friends sent of their get-together. I joined in the fun in spirit.
At this gathering, friends who had not participated in previous ones joined in. A total of 16 people attended. There were also some who started in our major subject that we learned but soon transferred to a new major subject after meeting the grade requirements. I also saw two friends with similar names at the reunion who had been inseparable from the start of their first year until their final year, but hadn’t seen each other even once since the end of that final year. Those two must have been overjoyed.
In reality, the little gathering was quite ordinary. There was nothing grand about it. Even so, it reawakened and rejuvenated their minds, which had settled over more than 40 years.
The time gap of over four decades had drastically changed everyone’s physical appearances. Yet, their spirits remained unchanged. Thanks to the reunion, they felt youthful at heart and gained new strength. If anyone was feeling depressed, discouraged, or lost, that ordinary little gathering boosted their resilience, keeping them motivated and uplifted for at least a week or ten days, and bringing renewed energy to their work. This in itself was a rewarding gain for their lives.
Even those who shared only a casual friendship during their young student days have now become close friends. Recalling the times when we struggled together in spirit during our student life has made our friendships grow even stronger. Over the span of more than forty years, there are also those who have passed away. Therefore, in the short time we have left in life, we are people who share the same thoughts, mindsets, and experiences, possessing lives where we can turn to each other and smile. Because of this, for the sake of the friends we bonded with in our youth, we all understand without a single word being spoken that it is now time for us friends to hold each other’s hands.
Various kinds of gatherings take place across society in many different forms. They are organized for diverse purposes, drawing participants from all walks of life around a variety of themes. Attendees may span different age groups, carry different duties and responsibilities, and pursue diverse livelihoods.
Yet, at these gatherings, they set aside their rank, status, and wealth, remembering how they once walked a shared journey in life with one heart and mind, striving together to overcome common challenges. Bound by the strong, enduring ties forged through those memorable milestones in their lives, they come together to exchange heartfelt feelings, share in one another’s happiness, and align their thoughts and perspectives.
In truth, time is not something that stands still or can be halted. We must navigate life maturely, adapting and evolving with the passage of time. Yet, life does not always run smoothly; from time to time, one encounters hardships and turning points.
Just as the Myanmar proverb goes – Every dog has his day – life’s ups and downs inevitably touch our daily existence. Whenever struck by these shifting tides, anyone would seek an emotional outlet and a source of encouragement to stand firm with a resilient spirit. In such moments, simple gatherings among friends serve as a revitalizing tonic for those feeling weighed down by life.
Our alumni group is now around the age of sixty, with some already past it. No one knows how many of us will still be around in another twenty years. Even now, quite a few of the friends from our school days have already passed away.
Looking at a nearer horizon – just five years from now – I can only pray that all the friends present at this gathering remain in good health. I imagine we will continue to hold these reunions once or twice a year. Some will be able to attend, while others may not due to various circumstances. For this reason, those of us who have made it to this gathering must take care of both our physical and mental well-being so that we can attend the reunions yet to come.
Human life is brief and lasts only for a fleeting moment. In this short span between birth and death, we should all try to keep ourselves in the best possible shape, both physically and mentally. Even if we cannot actively do good for others, we should live with mindfulness and care so as not to cause harm to anyone.