Over 1,800 students, including myself, were recognized during NJCU’s commencement ceremony located in Newark’s Prudential Center.

           For two years, I limited my social life and traded it in for three hour bi-weekly classes and endless hours studying on my laptop. As unlikely as it may seem, my situation was the ideal student life. NJCU is known for admitting students who work full time jobs or have families to care for, giving students the opportunity to continue their education on their own terms. Listening to their stories makes me feel extremely lucky to even have the time to spend hours on end completing my assignments, while my colleagues spent sleepless nights making up for their assignments. I don’t know how they did it.

            However, on May 11^th 2016, all of those efforts were condensed into one special day, and we all knew our hard work was worth it. Students entered the Lafayette Tower of the Prudential Center in their gowns and fully decorated caps. Upon entering the stage area, graduates waved proudly to their families as we all anxiously waited for our name to be called upon stage and take our last walk as NJCU students.

            

Students at NJCU serve as a prime example to their siblings, colleagues, children, and anyone else who need a friendly reminder that achieving your dreams is more than possible with motivation, determination, and imagination as the elements to success. Our names were called onstage not only as a symbol of all our hard work, but to also serve as an example to others to strive for success.

            It wasn’t until the end of my academic career that I realized that success is not always a self-effort achievement. I blindly thought I completed my MBA all on my own. Yes, I wrote and edited my own thesis, I studied theories and arguments, and I took and passed all my exams, but none of these small triumphs would be possible without the help of my friends and family. I couldn’t have survived this obstacle without my boyfriend’s emotional support or my parent’s constant push to continue my education. I, as well as many other students, would not have been standing at the arena without the support and inspiration from family. It’s important to appreciate those who stood by us during our journey, as it is an accomplishment for them as well.

            The arena was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride, pride instilled in ourselves and pride filled in the hearts of our loved ones. The end of the ceremony concluded with cheers and applause for the years spent at NJCU, the days spent studying in the computer lab, the lunches eaten in the student union building, and the nights spent in class listening to lectures. As we all moved our tassel from right to left, we said goodbye to the end of one journey, and greeted the beginning of a new one. Congratulations to the Class of 2016! We did it!  

P.S. I also have to thank Anatalie from the Hair Room JC for styling my hair the morning of! She was amazing and really made me feel beautiful!