Graduation-season

As we evolve with social media, academics are getting more creative. From music video school board campaigns to graduation cap decorating, students are having fun with their studies! One particular Harvard senior, Obasi R. Shaw, has actually made history by becoming the first student at the Ivy League school to have submitted a rap album for his senior thesis in the English department, per Billboard.And that's not all! He excelled at it, too. The class of 2017 student's thesis earned a solid A- which guarantees that Shaw will be earning an honors degree! According to the Harvard Crimson, his thesis -- which pulls from The Canterbury Tales and other highly-regarded literature -- is a moody take on being black in the United States — and meant to illuminate how modern race issues are connected to the past. So, not only is homeboy creatively talented; he's woke, too! He quotes Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech in a track entitled "Understand." Additionally, he references the Black Lives Matter movement, slavery, segregation and former president Barack Obama."I feel like we compartmentalize our understanding of race relations in America into five distinct categories," Obasi told the Crimson. "There’s slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, civil rights, and now. And I think that because we make these sharp categorical distinctions, it’s hard for us to see how . . . violence now is influenced by housing policies in the '60s, and how different times intersect and how nothing's really distinct." "Rap is a historically black form of art, and if I want to tell a story of black people, the most appropriate art form is to use their art form — to use our art form," he continued. "I feel like a rap project kind of conveys the black culture more than a set of poetry would or even, like, a movie . . . This is one of the very few forms of art that black people can claim as their own."Shaw's overall wish is that his works convey a meaningful message. "When I speak about somebody's life, I can only talk about a few key moments and try to paint a broader picture from that," he noted. "I have to try to balance getting as much exposition into those few words as possible while also trying to tell a very interesting and engaging story.”Thesis too...

A mother's love is unmatched. As we navigate the ups-and-downs of our own lives, it can be easy to take our mothers for granted, not truly grasping the weight of the sacrifices they made so that we can live our best lives. One Somali girl certainly made sure that her mother's efforts weren't in vain.Meet Ramla Tyrow, who posted the following video of her mother's reaction to her recent graduation, when she secured her B.Sc. degree in Psychology and Counseling:Mama you ran from a civil war so I could be safe & get the education you didn't. Today you cried when you saw me in my robe. Did it for you😢 pic.twitter.com/BKva3yUbTG— Ramla Bkchatldn ✨ (@Ramla_Ty) July 13, 2017That's right, Mama escaped an entire civil war for this moment. Seeing her daughter cop that desired robe encapsulated every bit of the work she did to ensure her daughter received the education she was never afforded at her age. And it was beautiful. Ramla described her mother as "bulletproof" who maintained a "golden" heart "through all the pain and sacrifice." And that is how, dear Blavity fam, Ramla and her mama took us all on a "feel trip." I can only imagine the stories, the hardship and the life before this. What a lovely moment. https://t.co/GYewT0OQlY— lisamarks (@lisamarks) July 14, 2017My mother has become bulletproof whilst her heart remained golden through all the pain & sacrifice ❤️ https://t.co/LK3VKWiogD— Ramla Bkchatldn ✨ (@Ramla_Ty) July 14, 2017Oh man, who's chopping onions in here?! 😭 Congrats & peace to you on your journey. And s/o to your Mom, salute a real one!— Tom Hardly (@softjunebreeze) July 14, 2017I have no idea who you are but I just want to say how proud I am of you.❤️— Samantha (@SamiJay) July 14, 2017This made me sooo emotional 😩 Somali hoyoos are the toughest ❤️ https://t.co/Adp7Nzwwi8— IG: Kingshxy (@Shaymashakira98) July 13, 2017Aww this is making me cry, it's happy tears tho. Congrats to you and to your Hooyo macaan🙌🏽🙌🏽👏🏾❤️ #somalisuccess pic.twitter.com/UlK4bJYGge— Hani Lee (@HaniLee1) July 13, 2017The moment was also a testament to the importance of refugee support:This is why we should be welcoming everyone who is fleeing war and persecution, this makes us a better country, this makes us stronger xxx— david dutton (@1967DD) July 14, 2017This is really it. Parents fled war, left home and settled in a foreign land, adapted to a different society for the future of their kids.🙏🏾 https://t.co/qPwE7wRkwk— Mina 🇸🇴 (@minashoots) July 14, 2017Ramla's now-alma-mater, Middlesex University, even officially joined in the cheering:This is lovely from BSc Psychology & Counselling student Ramla Tyrow #MDXgrad17 #FeelGoodFriday https://t.co/gyvCTWpIbt— Middlesex University (@MiddlesexUni) July 14, 2017Congrats to Ramla and an extended congrats to her mama! Without your motherly magic, she wouldn't be where she is today. We salute...

Y’all remember that infamous speech Papa Pope gave Olivia in Season 3 of Scandal? "You have to be…twice as good as them to get half of what they have."How can we forget, right? It’s SO real in the black community.Well, the University of Toronto is formally acknowledging the racial barriers that their black students face by holding a ceremony for students earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees.Like the black graduation at Harvard, this ceremony is a separate event meant to serve as a “complement” to the traditional convocation commencement ceremony.Per HuffPost, the event was organized by two students, and will be fully supported by Canada’s largest university, both spiritually and financially, with the event taking place on campus.The ceremony will celebrate and honor 80 black graduates for overcoming the systemic and social obstacles placed in front of them as a black student seeking higher education."We wanted to take a moment because of the different forms of adversity that they've had to face while at university and kind of congratulate them for making it to the finish line," said co-organizer Jessica Kirk about the event, which will be the first of its kind in Canada.She went on to confirm that black students are often subject to challenges such as classroom racism and little to no access to black faculty members for supportive guidance. According to Kirk, the microaggressions are real: whether it’s “being talked over or interrupted” in class or finding that you only have one black professor or teaching assistant to talk to about your unique grievances or look to for motivation.As such, Kirk and her friend Nasma Ahmed decided to submit an event proposal to U of T, which was welcomed with open arms within a few days. "The goal is to create a strong pipeline of people who want to make U of T a place to study and encouraging those students to come to U of T and look at U of T as an option, a space where they can come and learn and feel very comfortable and contribute to that community," said U of T’s Vice President Hannah-Moffat said, who also noted that the university is open to similar proposals from other racialized groups.U of T’s monumental event is definitely gaining attention and admiration from Canada’s education sector for its efforts to support inclusion. "It sends an important message that you can actually have a commitment to valuing diversity and a commitment to excellence at the same time," said Malinda Smith, political science professor at the University of Alberta. "It also sends a message to the students in the university that the university values them." Smith is among the miniscule 2-3 black women teaching her subject across the entire country. Kirk will be starting her masters studies program at U of T this September and certainly hopes that this is a step in the right direction toward further inclusive initiatives. "Yes, we're happy that we got the support and we're definitely thanking them for that, but we think that the conversation does need to continue beyond the...

Delivering a speech is an art in and of itself, and the best ones are those that reflect the speaker in the truest sense. That’s why the initial actions of SouthWest High School in Edgecombe Country, North Carolina were so preposterous.Per Mic.com, senior class president and Class of 2017 graduating student Marvin Wright had his diploma withheld for over two days after refusing to read a speech that administrators prepared for him. He instead, read the very speech he had initially prepared: his own.SouthWest Edgecombe’s actions were reportedly in retaliation for his Wright’s refusal to read the administrators’ four-sentence-long speech, according to the Wilson Times. Wright worked for more than two weeks on his remarks, but was asked at the last moment to not deliver his speech and instead deliver one prepared by school administrators. "To be honest, the speech that they wrote wasn't me at all," Wright said to the Wilson Times. “I feel like they tried to belittle me in a way because I had more to say. I feel like they couldn’t describe the ways that I felt and the things that I experienced. There were only four sentences and I was like, ‘I really worked hard on this speech and as senior class president, I think I should read my own speech,’ and they was like, ‘No, this is what you are going to read.’”Instead, Wright “hit them with the hee” and decided to read his own speech after all. In the speech, he exclaimed, “I am no expert in this journey we call life, but we all have the ability to make a difference and to be that change the world needs. The past 13 years have equipped us for a time as this to stand bold in who we are. So I say to my classmates, cherish these last few minutes we spend here and the memories we have created and get ready for the journey ahead.”As you can see in the video recording, the administrators were none too pleased about Wright’s surprise decision. Per Superintendent John Farrelly’s statement to the Wilson Times, it wasn’t the content that bothered him, “I heard his speech and did not have any problems with the content.” The issue was, in fact, that he each speaker was beholden to a “practice speech,” which needed to be approved by a particular deadline, WRAL reported.Despite the drastic actions taken by administrators, they eased up on Wright and decided to give him his diploma after all, two days after graduation. School principal Craig Harris personally hand-delivered the diploma to his home and Farrelly apologized to Wright over the phone.One thing’s for sure, his mother is certainly proud of him and I have a feeling that this is what primarily matters to the young graduate. "My thing to him was to follow your heart," said his mother, Jokita Wright to WRAL. "He put God first. He spoke about parents, his classmates and spoke about his...

We're so close to summer you can basically taste it. The perfect weather, good vibes, endless BBQs--it's the best time of the year, after Christmas. It may have one up on Christmas but we'll debate that later.As we get closer to summer, that means graduation season is coming to an end but the class of 2017 has been showing out! The photo shoots, creative graduation hats, the impeccable speeches, there's no need to wonder about them surviving the real world because from what we can see, their futures are super bright. And let's not forget the proud parents and family members that helped them become who they are. We see y'all!One graduating class in Los Angeles, California dedicated their graduation song to their parents and loved ones and it is everything. Proud mama, Leah Oduro-Kwarten, shared on her Facebook page her son, Stephahn, leading his class in their rendition of the classic hit, "Before I Let Go." The video has since gained 2.7 million views. In the video, you can hear how proud Leah is of her son and his colleagues.Can we talk about that clean milly rock they hit during the breakdown? And shout out the choir director and the gold shoes! Hit a quick two step and peep the clip...

This month marks the start of when we’ll see posts and attend celebrations for the Class of 2017. Amidst the excitement of completing a 4-year journey successfully, for many recent grads, there will most likely be a hidden elephant in the room: graduate blues, also known as depression.By the time I attended my NYU Stern Convocation in May 2013, I had already secured my full-time opportunity the previous November. With a start date in late August 2013, I had plans for international travel and serving as a teaching fellow for two marketing classes during the summer. To everyone around me, it sounded like the perfect post-grad scenario: having my own apartment in NYC, 3 months to enjoy new grad freedom, a job lined up (i.e. less stress about how to pay for those pesky student loans), etc.However, something felt strange and odd about this new phase. With all this newly-acquired time and preparation to transition to working full-time, I suddenly missed the packed schedule and the group projects (which at one point I disdained) of undergrad. My mind was perplexed by this reality. But HOW? You have everything lined up. The “perfect” scenario.After speaking to a therapist about the shift, it was confirmed. I had the graduate blues. Her recommendation was to incorporate a bit of the structure I developed in school into this new phase of young adulthood — also known as adulting.Looking back at this phase in life and recognizing it’s a common stage that recent grads experience, I think it’s a reality that creates an opportunity for employers to foster a holistically healthy culture for entering millennial employees from Onboarding Day #1. Why should this matter for employers? “The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2020, depression alone will cause more days of work loss and work impairment than any other illness.” — the same year that millennials will make up more than half of the global workforce. Ultimately, being mentally healthy is critical to optimal employee performance. As entry level employees are most impressionable during their first years out of school, they may attribute a lack of effective performance to their abilities instead of on recent major shifts that have an effect psychologically — a perception that they could carry on for the rest of their career.Below are some tips on how employers can embrace this phase of their new employees’ lives for the benefit of their employee culture.Address this reality head-on. The most opportune time is during employee onboarding and training. Along with training on “how to be an impactful leader” and “dealing with team conflict” incorporate the importance of holistic employee well-being. Bring in a mental health professional (therapist, breathing coach, meditation instructor) to share more information about “graduate blues” and the psychological shifts that may occur with the transition from student to young professional. It’s important to position your company as knowing there’s no expectation for students to suddenly have it all together when they reach your office… they’re learning (and no matter what we say in the interview, we don’t have it all together on day 1.) The more comfortable they feel in their environment, the better the chance of them being able to bring their full selves to work and exercise their gifts for the betterment of their team’s performance.Incorporate mental health throughout various employee engagement activities. From stress and change management tools such as yoga, mindful meditation practices, and breathwork. Don’t let the conversation stop at onboarding. Adaptation to full-time work life happens in phases and chances are, new hires may not feel 100% comfortable discussing these changes with their boss or immediate team. Having third-party involvements to facilitate these activities will be critical in shaping a culture that helps recent grads excel for the long-run by providing them with positive mental well-being habits.Include managers and the rest of the organization in the conversation and training, especially if your company has a leadership development program. Having a holistic viewpoint of an employee's experience better helps their managers and mentors to guide them. With the knowledge that these millennials are navigating major shifts, leadership development programs can be extra taxing on dealing with change as they are moving from one manager and team to another — just when they’ve gotten the hang of their previous team. While dealing with performance expectations, they’re also tasked with learning the soft skill dynamics of another team. With managers and program managers equipped with this information, they can promote the healthy change management strategies learned and incorporate alike activities in their team building sessions.Integrate these practices and learnings from one group — “millennials” — to any employees navigating change. Track employee feedback from the incorporated measures to then advocate for other employee groups that may be silently suffering from adapting to change. Whether it’s new moms re-entering the workforce, recently released veterans transferring their skills to a new environment or current employees moving from one country to another on a global assignment, major shifts tend to bring about psychological change and having resources available for employees to explore if and/or when need be will be beneficial to their performance.To recent grads — you’re not alone in this new phase. To employers — I hope these tips provided insights to help you truly build a holistically healthy workforce and...

Graduation season is probably one of the most feel-good times of the year after Christmas Day and that first warm summer night. It's uplifting to watch your loved one achieve a goal they've set and seen to the end.Imagine how happy the Flennoy family is this year when they celebrated not one but five different graduates throughout three different generations. According to the Huffington Post, LaWanda Flennoy organized this photoshoot with photographer Darryl Hammond in Chicago to showcase that hard work pays off, no matter what. Flennoy's two older daughters graduated from college, her youngest daughter finished high school and her granddaughter graduated from kindergarten. The biggest inspiration of them all is LaWanda herself, who celebrated her own college graduation.“The photo makes me feel proud, for a couple of reasons,” Flennoy told HuffPost. “First, that I have been a role model for these ladies and second, that they have set out and accomplished their goals. Graduating was not an easy task for any of us, as we’ve all had setbacks and feelings of uncertainty. But this year, we’ve conquered them all.”Amari graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in industrial engineering and has accepted a position with Ford Motor Company. Paris graduated from Chicago State University with a degree in public relations and will go on to work for Apple. Jade will attend Illinois State University to study criminal justice and little Brooklyn is ready to conquer first grade in the Fall. As for LaWanda, she is set to graduate from South Suburban College with a degree in psychology later this month.The photo appeared on Facebook page Because of Them We Can, where it has received close to 5,000 likes and 2,000 shares.“I have always taught my girls that they can be whatever they want to be. A solid education and unwavering belief in themselves are great foundations for success,” Flennoy shared. “I hope people realize that with determination, focus and a good support system, anyone can meet their potential.”Congratulations, ladies! Keep...

Oh, I see you all putting on that beautiful regalia. It’s graduation season! And isn’t it lovely? *Stevie Wonder’s voice* Well, it's lovely for most… Let me tell you about my graduation, which was about a week ago. As I walked into my commencement with my fellow peers, they were all waving to the crowds, searching for their families, or stopping to pose for a picture from their mom, dad, auntie or whoever was shouting down “That's my girl!” or “Yeah, cuhh!” But me, I just kept my head straight and tried my hardest not to look into the crowd, because I knew there was no one up there cheering me on. Toward the beginning of the commencement, I had to rise with the rest of my graduating class as our university president suggested that we all stand and turn to the crowd to applaud our families who were present because they helped us get this far.  I’m standing there clapping, and all I could think about was “Ugh, hurry up and say my name so I can go.” Although I had waited forever to just get to this moment and graduate, I wasn’t even able to be present. I grew bitter and I started to feel lonely. Where the hell was everyone? After all, I did invite them months in advance. They knew the location; I even sent it in dropped-pin form in a text message along with detailed screenshots of how to get there. I got no reply, just a 'read' update. Then the reality of all my college years hit me at once. I was by myself, no family support, just as I had been this whole time — from the application process to the finish. I didn’t go away to college, as I wanted, I stayed home and went to my local university. There was no excuse for their absence in my mind. And compassion? Ha, I had not an ounce for them. But then about 25 minutes into the ceremony my best friend texted me and told me she just got off of work, picked my daughter up from school and was headed to my commencement. I then remembered why I was standing there. I was there for myself and my daughter, and I couldn't have gotten that far if it had not been for friends and strong support systems, which I had to create. As a first-generation college student, my family never understood the importance of school. I have accepted the fact that they never will. However, this is not some 'feel sorry for me' post, or 'let me find something to complain about even though I have a college degree' post. But this is for those who are similar to me, those who have taken the alternative route (whatever that might be) and had to do so alone. Many of you will probably walk into your commencement just as I did, having reached your goals and just in the midst of relief, find yourself looking for outside approval. Don’t do it. Remember the importance of perspective and how far that has gotten you. I left out of my commencement early and missed the confetti and all of the works, but at my black commencement (Tyehimba) — which I attended shortly after the regular ole’ university one — I was reminded that it was those who were no longer with me that influenced and helped me get to this point. I was there by way of my ancestors and, most importantly, my grandmother. If this happens to be you on graduation day, walking in with no one in the crowds or even if you are still upset at your family for choosing not to come, remember that everything you need is already inside of you, so celebrate and keep reaching. And to university presidents and commencement speakers, be more inclusive with your speeches for once!  On Saturday, May 21st, we’re hosting our inaugural conference about how creativity and technology are changing our daily lives, from our hobbies to our work. Will you be joining us? Tickets here. Use code blavityfam. READ NEXT: 7 pieces of post-grad advice from Oprah, just in time for graduation...

Aside from being a television network owner, producer, actress, philanthropist and overall queen of all media, Oprah has also been making the rounds as the authority of the college commencement address for years now. Given her incredible personal testimonial, infallible bounce-back-game and savvy business sense, it's no wonder that she's an undisputed authority on life-gathering. Whether you're fresh up out the cap and gown or well into post-grad life, here are 7 pieces of post-grad advice from Oprah to sustain you when adulating gets real: "Sometimes you find out what you are supposed to be doing by doing the things you are not supposed to do."  – Howard University, 2007   "You must have some vision for your life. Even if you don't know the plan, you have to have a direction in which you choose to go. You want to be in the driver's seat of your own life because if you are not, life will drive you." – Spelman College, 2012   "When you’re supposed to do something or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know. The trick is to learn to check your ego at the door and start checking your gut instead." — Stanford University, 2008   “You will find true success and happiness if you have only one goal. There really is only one, and that is this: To fulfill the highest, most truthful expression of yourself as a human being."  – Harvard University, 2013 "When you're doing the work you're meant to do, it feels right and every day is a bonus, regardless of what you're getting paid." – Stanford University, 2008   "Each of us has to stand in our own shoes, and the real question is how will you stand in your own? Will you stand in them with humility and compassion and integrity and courage? Well, I'm here to tell you, every day and every experience of your life will give you a chance to make that choice. It still happens to me, every day, all the time." – Duke University, 2009   "We all stumble. We all have setbacks. If things go wrong, you hit a dead end—as you will—it's just life's way of saying time to change course." – Stanford University, 2008   Congrats to all the 2016 graduates. This is just the beginning of your adventure! Share these tips with graduates you know on Twitter or Facebook below! READ NEXT: 15 things post-grad life taught me in one...

Students and families attending a graduation ceremony in the suburbs of Atlanta were shocked after their principal Nancy Gordeuk made a racially charge statement about the event's Black attendees. The outbreak occurred after principal Gordeuk, accidentally ended the graduation ceremony before the class valedictorian made their speech. She attempted to keep the audience in the auditorium and started losing it when was unable to do so. "Look who’s leaving — all the black people," Gordeuk shockingly shouted. "Y’all are the rudest people I’ve ever seen in my life. Close those doors. Close the doors, now!" Watch the video below to see more:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Isw9yKD9s   ...