The commencement ceremony is the one event during the year that every university around the world waits for to see first-hand the culmination of several years of study, hard work, commitment, and sacrifice. It is the day where the graduates celebrate with the faculty and staff, but more importantly, with their families and friends, all together, as one big happy family. In academia, I firmly believe that nothing beats celebrating success and accomplishments with your loved ones. It is the moment when graduates, upon conferring the degrees reach the finish line of one chapter and get ready for the next one.
As a faculty member, I have been attending AUC commencements regularly since 1992, and I have only missed a handful, maybe 3 or 4; so, I leave it up to you to work the math and see how many I attended. Every event was unique and different in its own way. The reason why I was always determined to participate in these commencements is that I genuinely enjoy the moment of seeing our beloved graduates make the transition and move on to start their professional journey, joining many of their fellow graduates who preceded them and went on to succeed in various walks of life whether in the private sector, government, or civil society.
For the American University in Cairo, it has been almost twenty months since we hosted a commencement ceremony, given the health and safety precautionary measures imposed since March 2020. However, with the campus reopening in September 2021 in-person and full capacity, the university community has been gradually and cautiously transitioning back to normal campus life while remaining vigilant yet enjoying the vibes, spirit, and buzz we have been missing for quite some time. Despite the convenience and reach that innovative communication technology platforms offer, nothing beats seeing, working, and socializing in-person with colleagues and friends. It is simply human nature.
Therefore, it was thrilling to be back on campus and more so to host the School of Business commencements for Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 on the 28th and 29th of September at the Joseph B. and Ruth J. Ward Field. It was a real breath of fresh air to finally celebrate the accomplishments of 51 graduate and 540 undergraduate students.
For some, the wait has almost been 16 months; for others, it was just over 8 months, still way too long. It was all worth it because, from the outset, the university had the well-being, health, and safety of its entire community as the utmost priority and equally important to what it strives to do day in day out, and that is to offer a unique and impactful student-centered learning experience.
As the dean, I thought of several ideas for my commencement speeches. In my mind, the commencement speech is usually predictable, and it often follows a particular pattern. Besides, it is always carefully written with a focus on predicting the future, and indeed it praises the graduates for their accomplishments. Also, to my recollection, these speeches regularly address the challenges that society faces and encourage the graduates to use their knowledge to tackle these challenges, do good to the world and make a difference. Do not get me wrong; these speeches are perfectly fine. I have given several of those speeches before.
However, for my speech on September 28th, I was not planning to do that simply because it would have been awkward to predict the future at a time and in a year that was anything but predictable. I decided to talk about the uncertain times we live in, how the pandemic disrupted many lives and livelihoods around the world, including ours, and how it is becoming so difficult to predict the future, especially in a world that is seeing the acceleration of digital transformation given the power, speed and reach of innovative technologies; and the importance to implement effective policies so that digitalization does not exacerbate the divide in society and lead not just to digital access but also digital equity. I emphasized that the only way to do that is to invest in the readiness of society and particularly in human capital as the primary building block to realize inclusive and sustainable development and consequently a better future.
As I gathered my thoughts late that evening for my speech the following day, September 29th, I decided to share a different kind of message, mainly tips addressed to the graduates as they embark on their next journey. Here they are…
“Life is all about making timely decisions
It is those decision moments that define so many things in life, and you will be faced with some of those moments, and you will have to decide. But regardless of what happens next, as a piece of advice, never look back and surely never regret; always look forward, stay positive.
Take stands, take risks, take responsibility
Never shy away from making the big call, even at a young age. You create opportunities by taking risks and performing well, not by complaining and fearing the unknown. As a graduate of the school of business, I think you know that very well.
Spend more time listening; you'll learn a lot more
This can be a challenge for some, I get it, but when doing most of the talking, chances are, you will be left on the losing side. You cannot learn anything if you are talking all the time. There is a lot out there that we do not know, and it is invaluable to listen, absorb, analyze, understand, and learn from others. So, please be prepared to listen more, not to yourself but to others, and whatever strong beliefs you now hold about what it means to be successful, I hope you will be open to the possibility that you have got it all wrong and graciously accept other perspectives with gratitude and humility. Trust me; you will end up on the winning side more often. I can tell you many stories about that.
Lifelong learning is part of your continuous improvement journey
An integral part of one’s learning process is appreciating knowledge, catering to diversity, and searching for excellence. It takes a commitment to embrace lifelong learning. I said it on more than one occasion; I am a student of life; for me, lifelong learning is not an option; it is a way of living. I consider learning as an ongoing journey. You never get there. There is always room to improve and become better at what you do. There is a lot more out there to learn from.
Whatever you do, do it with passion, full commitment, and dedication
You must believe in yourself and your work. Believe in your colleagues and engage them in every possible way. Continuous communication is critical, and there is never a ceiling to how often, formally and informally, this should take place. While doing that, you must have a high threshold for frustration. You must keep knocking on doors until you reach your goals. Some doors will slam in your face, I guarantee it. I have been there. You must pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go back and knock on doors again. It is the only way to achieve your goals in life, and I promise you that you will succeed if you do that.
Be happy
This is priceless. No one can succeed unless they are happy. Whatever you do, you must have fun doing it while keeping a positive attitude, or else do not do it. Do something that can fulfill your dreams, something that makes you feel good, and that can impact you, people, or society. On this note, giving back to society is more than an obligation; it is a privilege that helps people feel good.
Failure is part of the journey
There are times when you are going to do well and times when you are going to fail. If you do not fail, you will never appreciate success. Creativity and innovation by design allow you to make mistakes. All this is part of your experience building and believe me, every experience counts, and success and failure are integral elements of our life cycle. Therefore, attitude is everything, so please keep it spirited, positive, and optimistic.
Leaving the most important tip for last…
Family counts and should always come first
Your family will always play an integral part in your accomplishments. It is easy to get carried away with work but keep the balance; in the long term, work counts but family counts much more; they are an integral element in your personal and professional success. It is our family that made us strong enough to face the challenges of every day, turn them into opportunities, and succeed. In that sense, family is one of the greatest gifts of nature to us.
Congratulations - الف مبروك”.
About the author: Sherif Kamel is a Professor of Management and Dean of the School of Business at The American University in Cairo.
4 October 2021
Issue #17