" Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
Oh happy day to you our graduate. A gathering of family and friends celebrated the end of her five year journey and a first step into the next. With honors she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences from the University of Tennessee.
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. Fortunately for us and our girl, that has been a true statement. We give our thanks to all of the professors, and deans who have so graciously taught and inspired Zaina to this successful day.
My husband and I sat there at the graduation ceremony sort of in disbelief that so many years have gone by so quickly. We remember the day she was born like it was five seconds ago and now we are looking at a college graduate.
University isn't something we take for granted in our house or family. Our generation was the first generation to graduate from university in both my and my husband's families. We watched as both sets of parents slaved and worked themselves into exhaustion just so that everyone of their children could have the opportunity to go to college and better themselves. Both sets of our parents knew that education was the only way to move forward in life and create security for ones family and future generations. When I graduated college my father asked what I was going to do to make the world a better place? How was I going to give back?Since I held a degree, I was responsible for many things larger than myself.
Zaina's graduation, the second generation to hold a college diploma, is a great testament to our parents, and her grandparents, who worked tirelessly to make that dream come true. We couldn't help but think and talk of them often throughout all of the festivities. I wish they could have seen this day. They would have been beyond proud of our girl. And so now we ask her, this eldest child of ours, what are you going to do to make the world a better place? What are you going to do to change the plight of one person? You hold a great responsibility in your hands and a lifetime to work towards it.
Congratulations Zuzu. We Love You.
