Practically 400 Harvard Extension College diploma candidates and visitors gathered at Memorial Church on Sept. 20 to rejoice convocation, marking a second of unity and achievement for this world community of scholars.
This was the fifth convocation for HES diploma candidates. For some, it was their first time visiting Cambridge, with many assembly classmates in particular person after solely seeing them by means of on-line courses.
Amongst these experiencing this milestone was Jean Michael Lif, a Grasp of Liberal Arts candidate in worldwide relations, who flew in from the Dominican Republic particularly for the occasion. Having solely been on campus twice earlier than, Lif expressed his pleasure at lastly connecting together with his friends face-to-face.
“It’s one thing actually stunning,” he shared, reflecting on what initially felt like a frightening dedication. Lif started his HES journey whereas working on the Ministry of International Affairs within the Dominican Republic because the monetary coordinator for European markets. Lif mentioned he wanted a grasp’s diploma that offered each tutorial rigor and suppleness and he noticed HES as the right match. Now, he manages a media firm devoted to elevating the picture and tradition of his nation and ultimately hopes to return to a task in authorities.
Suzanne Spreadbury, HES dean of educational packages, welcomed the group. “Harvard Extension College diploma candidates put difficult teachers on the heart, not the margins, of their lives,” she mentioned.
Spreadbury highlighted the extraordinary tasks undertaken by previous graduates, from partnering with NASA scientists to judge satellite tv for pc information to collaborating with the North American Blackfeet Nation tribe on a wetland restoration venture. She remarked that whereas these accomplishments are noteworthy, they’re additionally fairly atypical for HES graduates, emphasizing the educational rigor and help from workers that propels college students.
Dean of the Harvard Extension College and Persevering with Training Nancy Coleman closed the ceremony by addressing the group. Coleman acknowledged the distinctive challenges that many college students have skilled of their pursuit of training.
“We can not deny that our world is dealing with excessive challenges, lots of which we’ve by no means seen earlier than,” Coleman started. “We all know what they’re as a result of we dwell them every single day — within the media, in social media, and perhaps round our kitchen tables.” But amidst these obstacles, Coleman praised the scholars for selecting to pursue their tutorial objectives, notably at a spot as rigorous as Harvard. “You may have challenged your self within the pursuit of one thing greater, and that’s optimism,” she added.
Coleman inspired college students to harness this optimism, to make use of the information they’ve gained at HES to push by means of difficulties and make significant adjustments of their communities. “Each one in every of you has the facility to ask the troublesome questions, to courageously change the course of your historical past, and the optimism to succeed.”
