Farah Graduates

I did it again! I graduated May 10 with my master's degree in journalism. It was quite funny to me, mostly because I just finished my undergraduate study last May. It was a quick year, but the program was tough.

I'm happy to report that I am still standing and if I may say so, a little bit proud of my achievement.

The following is an account of the momentous occasion:

On the crisp morning of May 10 my close friend Toni arrived at my Syracuse home around 7 a.m. to give me a fabulous graduation do. After my hair was curled and ready, I rushed to slip on my light yellow dress and some 3-inch black heels.

Knowing full and well that I had to get through security checks at the Carrier Dome by 9 a.m., I proceeded up Irving Avenue at 9:05 a.m. Curling hair takes a good amount of time, if you do it right of course.

With my master’s hood from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and black cap in hand, I ran up Irving Avenue and then up many steps to the dome. Remember the black heels.

I managed to wave to the three secret servicemen as I hustled to the main security gates. They whispered into their wrists, "Biden en route," as I sprinted by.

Telling me that I just made it, I passed through without a problem and made my way into the dome to join a few other Newhouse classmates.

I finally caught my breath and felt a little relieved, but only for a moment because the excitement of graduating from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in journalism was beginning to kick in.

The procession for the 155th commencement of Syracuse University began promptly at 9:30 a.m. I walked and waved with students of an array of master’s programs. Miraculously, I spotted my husband within the hundreds of faces that were smiling at all of us.

I made my way to my seat as I found myself sitting in the third row from the stage. That’s right; I was a mere 15 or 20 feet away form where the vice president of the United States would be sitting.

After the university chancellor spoke along with a few other scholars, it was time to hear the commencement speech. Vice President Joe Biden opened with a few light-hearted notes as he warmed up the dome.

He gave us a brief history on what it was like to be a student in the college of law and what the outlook was like back then. According to many tragic accounts, the country was suffering the loss of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, two heroes of Biden.

Much like today, we are faced with war, an economic crisis, environmental issues plauging the future and so many more hardships. Although the general public may agree that these are dire times and probably the worse times to "think big," Biden said it is the perfect time.

I definitely agree. Like many other graduates sitting in the dome Sunday I am on the cusp of a new beginning with a gathering of knowledge and inspiration. Why should we feel like there is no light in near future?

Biden said it many times on Sunday, he is optimistic, and so am I. If we think tomorrow is lost, then what are we doing here? The world is only what we make of it, and if we aren’t making the most of it and working toward what we desire in life, then we may as well just give up.

The talk of the economy has become a constant jabber of statistics and personal testimony, but has the economy ever been perfect? Absolutely not. However, we are no becoming accustomed to blaming the economy for every bad thing that has happened in the last year. I honestly can’t remember what we blamed our problems on before the economy hitch.

Don’t get me wrong, the world is struggling economically as a whole, some places worse than others, but we’re still plugging away and until everything shuts down we should continue to push forward.

People are still furthering their education, like many of us proved Sunday, and others around the world are continuing to buy and sell property, try new occupations and start families. If these events are still happening, we shouldn’t lose hope in a brighter tomorrow for everyone.

More than any other time he has given a commencement speech, Biden said that on Sunday he felt that the graduating class sitting before him was going to truly be a part of the change he and President Barack Obama believe in.

Proud to be one of those sitting before the vice president, I will solemnly do my best to do my part, big or small, in putting the pieces of the American outlook back together.

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2009.

More fine things to come...

- Farah