Commencement: ‘Keep Pushing Yourself’
By Ryan Clark
CHS Communication Director
In her senior year of high school, Yasmeen Abdelhafiz learned about the Medical Laboratory Sciences program at the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences.
Suddenly, everything clicked in her mind.
“I chose my major because I felt it was what I was meant to be doing,” says the 20-year-old Lexington native. “I’ve always been more of a hands-on learner; I understood things better when I did it myself and working in the lab allows me to do exactly that.”
Friday, Yasmeen will officially become a professional, as she joins dozens of other students from her College in commencement ceremonies at Rupp Arena.
“I came to UK because I wanted to stay close to home and my family, and fortunately, it also had the major/program I wanted to study,” she says. “To me, this commencement means that I’m following my dreams! It means that I have persevered through these past couple of years when I didn’t think I could. I’ve proven to myself that I’m able to do hard things no matter the challenges I’m faced with.”
Yasmeen was able to graduate from high school with an associate’s degree, which allowed her to graduate from her MLS program in less than two years.
“It was harder than I could’ve imagined getting to the end of it, and I’m beyond grateful and proud to have made it,” she says.
Still, there was time to meet new people and engage in new experiences.
“The most memorable moments have been the ones I have made with my classmates,” she says. “Though I didn’t always participate, when I did, I had a great time, whether it was studying as a group for upcoming exams or going hiking with some.”
And what does the future hold?
“The future holds so many different possibilities of whichever path is taken,” she says. “We can never be truly certain of what it holds, we can only be hopeful. And I am hopeful that the future holds a successful career in my field of study.”
Friday, as she walks across the stage to accept her diploma, Yasmeen says she will be lost in her own thoughts.
“I will be thinking, ‘Wow, I did it and I made my family proud while doing it!’” she says. “I will also be thinking about how fortunate I am to be able to get an education while there are people around the world that could only dream of it.”
Among others, she thanks UK and the College for her opportunities.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the time I’ve had at UK and all the opportunities I have been given to get here,” she says. “Without the support of my family and friends, I wouldn’t have made it this far; I will forever be thankful for their motivational advice through the years.”
And for those thinking of taking a similar path?
“Take the opportunities that you are given!” she says. “It’s going to be challenging — you’re going to want to give up at some point — but when you keep pushing yourself and exceeding your potential, you’re going to be incredibly proud of yourself for getting through to the end.”