The Touching Story of Charlotte's Graduation Gown, Shahnaz Haque's Daughter, at Her Veterinary Medicine Graduation

It turns out that the pink dress worn by Charlotte is not just a style choice. The dress belonged to her grandmother, Mieke, the mother of Shahnaz, who passed away in 1991. The dress holds deep memories. It has become a symbol of love and the legacy of family values that remain alive even though its owner is no longer here.

"This dress belongs to Grandma Mieke, a grandmother known only through photos and stories from my mother. Since Grandma passed away in 1991, long before I got married," Shahnaz wrote in the caption of her Instagram post on Thursday, (21/8) yesterday.

Shahnaz reminisces about the moment when she and her siblings had to go through their mother's closet after her passing. Among the many clothes, Shahnaz confidently chose that pink dress. She remembers that her mother sewed the dress herself after deciding to leave her career at Pertamina and chose to become a housewife as well as a seamstress.

The dress also became a witness to an important achievement in Shahnaz's life. "The last memory when this newly finished dress was worn to pick up my high school graduation report card," she wrote. She admitted to being a Physics major student known for her intelligence but also "naughty" because she often got called by the guidance counselor. Unexpectedly, her report card grades were the best at that time. Her mother was so proud.

Shahnaz recounted how her mother always emphasized the importance of education for girls. "So, girls must be smart. You are the youngest who likes to cause trouble, I’ll only give you capital to sell satay if you don’t graduate. So you won’t bring shame," Shahnaz recalled her mother's words, who was of Madurese descent.

The memories became even sweeter and more bitter when after picking up the report card, her mother took her to eat her favorite wonton noodles in Tebet. "Imagine wearing that dress plus heels. Mom was willing to go to my favorite muddy place when I skipped school to hang out," she wrote. Less than a year later, her mother passed away due to ovarian cancer.

Now, decades later, the dress full of memories is worn again by her granddaughter without knowing the story behind it. "I was silent for a long time. Perhaps it is a sign from Allah that Mother is accompanying her granddaughter at the graduation," wrote Shahnaz.