Two days ago almost 1000 students graduated from Hudson County Community College. The ceremony was the usual, with a speaker, a valedictorian, and the calling out of all the names, which took about 1 1/2 hours. I knew the valedictorian this year. He was in my World Lit class in the fall, and plays the judge in the trial of Creon (which you can view on my youtube account 'kosweeting'). He is a success story. Growing up in Union City, of Spanish descent but not Spanish speaking, gay, and diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, he thought he was not college material. Teachers persuaded him otherwise, and he was indeed quite successful at Hudson County - earning a perfect 4.0 and becoming valedictorian. He gave a wonderful speech and is now on the way to New Jersey City University, on full scholarship.
Then there is the 59 year-old woman who got a degree in culinary arts, and immigrants who arrived not speaking a word of English less than 5 years ago, who are now graduating. Community colleges are open access and equal opportunity, and many students would not have gone to college if not for community colleges. I love these success stories.
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