I guess graduations always bring out the philosopher in all of us.  Commencement.  We’re ending but we are beginning again as well.

For me this year’s graduations have a particular poignancy about them.  I’m a teacher in real life but I don’t share too much about that up here, but this graduation is making me want to share that a bit more.

In 2010, I became a teacher and in 2011, something else significant happened.  A large group of students from Saudi Arabia arrived in the school I work in.

It turned out that these new arrivals would mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life.   This was a chapter where I really had to learn how to be a teacher.  I had to really learn how to negotiate with people and adjust to a culture whose intricacies were much more complex than any I had ever encountered.  Along with way, I forged excellent friendships.  There were bumps in the road, but it turned out to be quite an significant chapter in my life.

Today one of the first students I encountered from that cohort graduated from college.  His name is Hussain Aloufi and I’m writing that on here for the first time because I’m so proud of the fact that he graduated with top honors from Suffolk University.  Moreover, I’m happy to have been a part of his journey as a college student in the United States.  I thought that as well with the students from Saudi Arabia, that we were part of such a significant chapter in their lives.

Congratulations Hussain!!!!!!  Not only did you graduate with highest honors, but you also got to shake hands with the absolutely awesome Elizabeth Warren!!!!!!!!!