Behind the pageantry and solemnity of Athabasca University’s convocation ceremonies is something far more impressive: stories of students learning at all costs and in all environments.
While most university convocations have the gowns and the pomp, few include recitations of graduates’ bios as they cross the stage. It’s a personal touch that’s not only gracious to the students; it’s a great reminder to anyone watching the ceremonies how important it is to keep learning, no matter the barriers.
There’s the graduate who completed her final assignment while on a cruise for her 25th wedding anniversary. There’s the mom who worked on her courses at hockey arenas while her boys played. There’s the soldier who completed three courses while deployed in Kandahar. And there’s the woman who ploughed through courses while recovering from spinal surgery.
These celebrations should prompt us to begin each day by asking, “What can I learn?”
