A Message to My Graduating Students

Congratulations! You'll be hearing this word a lot this week, so enjoy it and relish every minute. Allow me to tell you a short story; this is my way of connecting with you and attempting to identify with you and your loved ones.

My parents took the bold choice to leave Lebanon at the height of the civil war that raged from 1975 to 1976 many years ago. We boarded a cargo ship with around 200 other residents seeking shelter. The major cause for our leaving was school closures, which bothered my parents immensely. Their worry for their children's education prompted them to take a risk and go to Alexandria, Egypt—a new nation, a new adventure where they had no family or friends.

The journey was arduous and the weeks preceding my enrollment in Al-Nasr School for Boys, and my sisters' enrollment in Al-Nasr School for Girls, were equally challenging. We persisted and spent a few months absorbed in our studies before returning to Lebanon (we were told that the war had ended). Looking back on my parents' choice, I can only admire their bravery, unrelenting dedication to their children's education, and the enormous sacrifices they made to assure our return to school. They left everything behind, packed a few bags and sailing across the Mediterranean—a remarkable tribute to the Phoenicians' tenacious spirit.

Indeed, it's not only your parents who would have played a significant role in your lives. There was a broader network of individuals, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, guardians, and even supportive friends who stood by you throughout. There were also total strangers—people who chose to contribute to the educational endeavors of individuals they may not even know. They simply believed in the transformative power of education, striving to uplift generations in the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. These individuals, whether related to you directly or just friends of the American University of Beirut , epitomize the true spirit of the Phoenicians—entrepreneurial, hopeful, explorative, inquisitive, confident, and deeply committed to goodness.

Allow me to continue my narrative with Alexandria; it is not yet finished. I got the incredible chance to return to that wonderful city last month, 47 years after I had last set foot there. Things had changed dramatically. It has become increasingly congested, yet it retains the charm of its sister city, Beirut. One of the first things I did was call a cab and tell the driver to take me to my former school. To my delight, it was still standing there, aged with a rich past and loaded with numerous stories. I walked inside and took a nostalgic tour of the classrooms and playgrounds, overcome by a strong attachment to the place that had been my temporary home for just six months. What is it about a place that draws us back, prompting an unquenchable longing for the wonderful memories of days gone by?

Dear Graduating Students;

You have been at American University of Beirut and Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB for the past three or four years, and during that time, you have truly excelled in multiple ways. You excelled academically or in university life. You helped your friends, you guided them, and you went through moments of joy with them. You displayed behaviors that are only true of committed individuals, diligent, devoted, and passionate about what you did.

You competed courageously in strategy, marketing, investment, and entrepreneurial student competitions. Sometimes you won and sometimes you learned. Some of you have traveled to far-away places like Vancouver, New York, or Australia to represent the institution with distinction. We are thankful to you for exceeding expectations in every way.

Although you will be leaving this place, whether for an extended period of time working abroad, or pursuing other interests, we hope you will always maintain your connection to this university and this special place. Hopefully, it will not take you 47 years before you come back; nevertheless, regardless of when you return, you will be greeted with open arms. We shall enthusiastically welcome you, whether it is us or others who follow in our footsteps, welcoming you back to your alma mater to make new experiences, possibly as parents to future AUB and OSB students, or as a community of sincere friends who find pleasure in giving.

Thank you for being the amazing people that you are; thank you for being You. Thank you for representing the character and values of an AUB Suliman Olayan School of Business graduate.

?