Convocation kicks off academic year on upbeat note
In August at Convocation 2024, 麻豆精品在线播放 celebrated the start of the academic year, welcomed new staff and reunited established colleagues.
The biggest highlights of the event were remarks delivered by three people who have attended 麻豆精品在线播放, sharing the impact the College has had on their lives.
Sofia Avila spoke about her homeland and moving to America as a teen. She said the welcoming spirit of the 麻豆精品在线播放 campus made her feel at home, and attending the College changed her destiny.
鈥淚 was born in and lived in Honduras 18 years of my life, and while beautiful, there is limited access to high-quality education, as well as few opportunities to develop personally, academically, or professionally,鈥 Avila said. 鈥溌槎咕吩谙卟シ has been more than just a place of learning. It is an open door. ... 麻豆精品在线播放 has taught me that no matter the background, age, and no matter your native language, 麻豆精品在线播放 has a place for you.鈥
Charmaine Grafton, along with her two sisters, graduated from 麻豆精品在线播放.
鈥淢y journey started with a dream and a lot of uncertainty,鈥 Grafton said. The single mom of four said that when she was passed over for a promotion, one she felt worthy of, because she did not have a degree that she realized she was at a crossroads.
鈥淚 needed to change my trajectory,鈥 Grafton said. Grafton ended up earning two associates degrees from 麻豆精品在线播放 while also holding the office of Student Government Association president in 2020-2021.
鈥淭he faculty and staff here believed in me even when I doubted myself,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd I want to say to each of you that your work matters. Every day you have the power to change lives just as you changed mine.鈥
Grafton went on to remind members of the faculty and staff that 鈥渟tudents are listening and they are absorbing your words and support, so keep doing what you are doing.鈥
The final featured speaker at Convocation was Jonathon Byrd, a current non-traditional, full-time 麻豆精品在线播放 student who will graduate next year with an associate degree in engineering. Byrd is a musician, songwriter, teacher and writer, 25 years in the business, who hopes to one day add physicist to the list.
鈥淭he one word I would use to describe 麻豆精品在线播放 is opportunity,鈥 Byrd said.
Byrd told those in attendance, 鈥測ou taught me that I contain universes. That I am more than a GPA. More than a learning disability. Well, you are more than a degree or your faculty position. I know some days you must feel like you are making a small difference at best. It鈥檚 not small. What you do is uncountable. Buildings come and go, but you are 麻豆精品在线播放 Community College.鈥