Der Abi-Song

Do you remember? Nine years ago
we saw each other for the first time.
As a new student, small and inexperienced,
I stepped into this hall back then.
What feels so familiar today,
was foreign and new to me back then.
I was shy. Now I know,
that I have no regrets.

Because today I’m fully aware:
You were a good choice for me.

You gave me a lot.
You taught me a lot.
We learn not just for school, but for life.
But that’s not so wrong.
Because the endosymbiont hypothesis
is really worth knowing.
Bistro rolls taste good with cheese,
and that’s why they’re eaten in large numbers.
But I’ve learned even more:
Santa Claus, for example, isn’t real.
And that the stork brings the kids, I think is a rumor.
So much more than ever I understand.
The word "faculty" isn’t spelled with a double -e.

Not yet.

In short, I know all about
everything that’s necessary.

But what do I actually need
intelligence for?
What was really important to me
was just knowing the rhythm.
Everything else became
irrelevant.
The only thing that matters is
my diploma.

Today, the diploma
is not what it used to be.
Because my graduation grade doesn’t
really show what I can do.

Because in truth, I have no clue.
"I know that I know nothing," said a great philosopher.
The same goes for me, which means
I’m dumb!
Disaster!

My mind is healthy, though.
But education
is my weak point.
Because the reason I’m not learning anymore
is this:

The teachers are good.
But the classes and courses are too big.
This school needs new teachers.
But they’re unemployed.
Without cash, nothing happens here.

Teachers aren’t being hired anymore.
No money!
The school system is falling apart
very quickly.
And all just because the state
is cutting costs in the wrong places.

Classes are running
without individuality.
Before our school system breaks down
and the Western world collapses,
we need to do something!
Too late!

Because of the good teaching we’ve enjoyed here,
we want to thank you, the faculty, the office staff, the janitor personally...:

Ute, Ulrich, Ulla, Uwe,
Klaus, Claudia-Sabine,
Udo, Ursula and
Rainer and Regine,
Marie-Ellen,

Ernst-Günther, Gerhard, Gesa, Gertrud,
Baldur-Wotan, Barbara,
Brigitte, Bernhard, Bernd, Thomas,
Astrid, Arno, Erika,
Monika, Eva-Maria,

Horst-Dieter, Diethart, Dietrich, Karin,
Karsten, Karl-Friedrich,
Renate, Reinhart, Hartmut,
Hubertus, Helmut,

Jochen, Jens, Klaus-Jürgen, Edith,
Wulf, Wolfram, Manfred,
Volker, Ilse, Sigurd,
Hans-Ingolf, Hans-Peter, Anke.
Thanks!

The time has come to say goodbye.
Goodbye!
Au revoir!
See you later!
I don’t think I need to be ashamed of my words,
when I say: "Thank you! It was really nice."
Still, the show must go on!
With a bit of sadness, but with hope,
I can look to the future.

Let us rejoice.
Because I have
my diploma!