Eight Lebanon Residency Program Students Honored in Beirut Ceremony

(BEIRUT, LEBANON -- July 14, 2023) Last week, eight students in the Lebanon Residency Program at SUNY Empire attended the graduation ceremony hosted by our partner college, the American University of Science & Technology (AUST). The ceremony was held at UNESCO Palace in Beirut, Lebanon, and was presided over by AUST President Hiam Sakr, and Provost Nabil Haidar. The keynote address was delivered by May Rihani, a Lebanese activist for women's empowerment and global reform of girls' education.

SUNY Empire graduate Faihaa Yassin said, "Lebanese students like me, we displayed incredible resilience and unity. We actively participated in protests, demanding social justice and economic reform. So, when all schools and universities closed [due to the revolution and Covid-19], we quickly adapted to online learning. After the Beirut Port explosion, young people volunteered in relief efforts, showing solidarity. These experiences actually taught us valuable lessons such as perseverance, adaptability, and the results of connected action. So, passion for our studies and our collective purpose motivated us. We recognized the opportunities that education can make for us. It actually gave us a positive mindset and had a positive impact. Honestly, facing all of these challenges is very normal in Lebanon, but adopting a corrective mindset and finding strategies that worked for us helped us overcome them." 

SUNY Empire graduate Jana Almounged said, "My commitment to my work inspired me to continue my studies and pursue my dream. It was a challenging journey for me mentally and emotionally, but I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of SUNY Empire. My advice for students who are struggling with keeping up their studies is to push forward and keep going because learning is not just a degree, it is knowledge -- and knowledge will help you achieve your goals."

SUNY Empire graduate Ryan Mohamad Ballout El Mawla said, "Being a student living away from his parents, I went through many moments where I felt overwhelmed by life and my responsibilities. There was a period when I felt particularly overburdened and pushed on numerous fronts. The quick shift to e-learning presented an enormous transition at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. I felt lost and alone due to a mix of technical issues, a lack of interpersonal engagement, and the interruption of my regular routines. My feelings of nervousness and dread were also heightened by the steady stream of upsetting news about the global pandemic and fearing that my family might be affected. In addition to the pandemic was the explosion of the Beirut Port, where I felt lost in emotions and wavering about the decision to leave Lebanon permanently because of my anger towards what happened and all the lives that were lost. Setting up study times, breaks, and rituals for self-care allowed me to stay focused and successfully handle my studies. Furthermore, I made a point of looking after my mental and emotional health. I made stress-relieving activities like exercise and soccer a part of my everyday routine. My family helped me through these difficult times, so I constantly worked to strengthen our bond."

The video of the 2023 Commencement can be found at: https://fb.watch/lCB9zaUVAQ/.