This past weekend, my wife and I went up to the Boston area to attend the commencement ceremony in Lowell. The commencement ceremony itself was really memorable, extremely well organized, and it featured great speakers. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, gave an inspirational speech about his humble beginnings in Colorado, and how he became the first generation in his family to obtain a college degree. His speech made us all proud, and brought back memories of when I first came to this country. My uncle, who is no longer with us, brought me here on a student visa many years before I started taking classes at UMass. I was fresh off the boat when I went to American University to attend their ESOL classes. Later on, I got my associates degree from a community college, went back overseas for work, and came back to the U.S. years later. And that was when I decided to get my bachelor's degree at UMass. It has been a very rewarding experience since then.
Getting a degree reinforces the idea that everything is possible if you work hard toward your goals. I also believe that getting a degree in my forties makes me appreciate it more than if I had gotten it when I was in my twenties. All those nights and weekends working on my assignments have paid off.
Never give up on your dreams, keep fighting for them, and sooner or later they will come true.
Your blog is inspirational. Congratulations on your pending graduation. I am sure your hard work will pay off for you. I like your positive attitude, "Never give up on your dreams." That is a challenge for so many today with the financial crisis. I am attempting to put my son through college now. His tuition is about 25K a year. We are struggling to make that happen without burdening him for the rest of his life. When I started college in the mid 1980's, a semester was about a thousand dollars. I was able at that time to work part time, live a home with my folks, and pay for college as I go. There is no way that he could do that today...at least full time. With that in mind, it seems times have become a bit more difficult, but we all must remember to never give up. Best wishes to you in your future.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Kevin! Indeed, going to college is a huge financial undertaking these days. I can only imagine how hard it must be to put a kid through college nowadays. I'm sure your son is very appreciative of your efforts, and you will be very proud of him when he finishes his degree. I wish you and your son all the best and much success in your future endeavors.
DeleteI really appreciate your post. I can't imagine coming to a different country when you don't know anyone or any place there. Congrats on graduating! I also will be graduating soon and understand the rewarding feeling it gives you.
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