In Their Own Words - Students Speakers Share Inspiration at MSA Congratulatories
For many of us, our families traveled from home countries with dreams of a brighter future. Their journeys surely began uncertain and scared, but these journeys have led to this very celebration.”
Melissa Barraza
Weinberg '24
Hear from the student speakers at each MSA congratulatory & the GSRC's Lavender Graduation
As Northwestern celebrated the Class of 2024 earlier this month, Multicultural Student Affairs and the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center hosted a series of congratulatory events to honor graduates from different affinity groups on campus. Student Affairs Marketing asked each of the student speakers at these events to share a favorite line from their speech, exploring the impact of their community on their time at Northwestern.
APIDA Senior Send-Off
Aidan Ocampo (Weinberg '24)
"Joining Kaibigan was the best decision of my life. Like many of you, I found an invaluable community in my APIDA cultural org that I had never experienced before. I finally was able to explore the significance of my Filipino-American identity and experience the joy of sharing my culture with Northwestern. Our work towards Southeast Asian visibility is an extension of a national necessity to expand Asian America to promote Southeast Asian voices." - Aidan Ocampo
MENA Congratulatory
Salma Alsikafi (SESP ‘24) & Sara Ibrahim (Weinberg ‘24)
"I have met some of my best friends through this club and I am so incredibly grateful for everything this club has to offer. I went from feeling like an outsider at Bates, to feeling so ingrained into the - let's be honest - slightly chaotic environment that is MENA, and I wouldn’t have it any other way." - Salma Alsikafi
"Growing up, I didn't always feel like I could be proud of being Egyptian, especially in such an intense Post-9/11 world, but now we are here and we don't care about stereotypes or what others will say. So, I encourage you all to lean more into your identity and unapologetically represent your culture." - Sara Ibrahim
The JOY: NU's Black Congratulatory
Wilma Tay (Weinberg '24) & Rahma Ndao (Communications '24)
"Class of 2024, we charge you to remain steadfast, embrace challenges, and kick down whatever doors stand in the way of your goals. Continue to be the change-makers, the leaders, and the voices of our community. Our journey has been one of resilience and triumph, and our legacy will be one of inspiration and progress." - Wilma Tay
Latinx Congratulatory
Melissa Barraza (Weinberg '24)
"So as we think about the future, let us reflect on our collective past. Let us acknowledge that for many of us these stories are not new. For many of us, our families traveled from home countries with dreams of a brighter future. Their journeys surely began uncertain and scared, but these journeys have led to this very celebration." - Melissa Barraza
Native American and Indigenous Community Celebration
This celebration did not include a student speaker - Northwestern student and Spring Pow Wow organizer Alivia Britton reflected on the ceremony and the role of Native community at Northwestern.
"The Native community has been the most welcoming and understanding during my time at Northwestern. I am appreciative of the relationships I have built that will last once I leave this university. I firmly believe that I would not be graduating today without their support and encouragement." - Alivia Britton
Lavender Graduation
Andie Tipton (Weinberg ’24)
"I hope you will find ways to continue to build queer community once you leave Northwestern and go out into the world. I hope you recognize the intrinsic power and creativity inside yourself that comes from being queer, and I hope that you never count yourself out." - Andie Tipton