Celebrating the graduates

by Sarah Kittle

Every graduating class has its moments and its challenges, but the Class of 2020 and 2021 have faced innumerable hurdles that included on-again/off-again classes, distance learning, Zoom mishaps, divisive rhetoric, confusion about safety issues, and the loss of face-to-face socialization, finally culminating in virtual commencements.

“Distance learning,” like “social distancing,” is a term we are all now too familiar with. Hands on classes are difficult to conduct on a computer screen, and mental health issues such as anxiety have sky-rocketed among this age group. Are they now prepared to face the future? Who knows?

Some graduates have faced even bigger hurdles. Adriana Mansour was the sole survivor of a boating accident that ended her siblings’ lives and drastically changed her own. Like the other graduates, she needed support and encouragement, but unlike most others, Adriana also required a parapro, a paraprofessional educator to help her navigate assignments and projects.

This may have influenced her decision to study to be an occupational therapist at Oakland Community College, followed by Oakland University. It will not be easy, and she will be on her own – no parents or parapro in the classroom. But she is ready. “She works harder than anybody,” says her mother, Ann.

The commencement ceremony at West Bloomfield High’s football field will be split into two parts, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Adriana is lucky to be having an in-person ceremony, although they are limited to two people per student for attendance. Many schools have gone virtual with their graduations, although recent changes in guidelines may affect planning.

Adriana says, “It just feels good to do things on my own.” Ann and John Mansour have given their daughter a deep-seated faith which has sustained her through years of hardship. After the accident in 2013, she struggled to learn to walk, talk, and take care of herself again. Recovering from a traumatic brain injury is no small feat, and Adriana has proceeded with uncommon grace.

Initially requiring a feeding tube and hours of therapy five days a week, Adriana is proud of her progress. She was in fifth grade when the incident occurred and missed from September to January. After months of incredibly hard work, she was able to return school - at first only half-time - and was eventually able to catch up with her classmates, with help from her parents and her parapro. Although she’s lost some friends, she’s made new ones, even with her now limited social skills.

As far as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown, “Staying home was nothing to us,” says Ann. Anyone with a disability or limited mobility would agree.

In a letter to the New York Times, reader Christine Skirbunt-Kozabo wrote, “Ask any person who was chronically ill or disabled before the pandemic how life changed for them during the pandemic and we can’t say it changed as much as the average “healthy” person’s life did. We were already used to being at home. We were already painfully adjusted to missing events. Eventually, you stop missing certain things and accept the home life because you have to adapt to your new normal or you will go insane with grief from your life’s lost possibilities.”

Rather than wallow in grief, Adriana became determined to succeed. Although she does grieve for her brother Alexander and sister Gabrielle on a daily basis, she stays motivated to go on for their sake. She is an inspiration to many.

Some students’ studies seem unaffected by the pandemic. James Haugh is graduating from Lake Orion High School, who is hosting their ceremony at DTE Energy Music Theater. Despite the large venue (it sells over 15,000 tickets for concerts), students are limited to four tickets per graduate. He will be going to Central Michigan University next year on a full scholarship and also has plans to study abroad, says his mother Lisa (Yatooma) Haugh.

College graduates have experienced loss from the pandemic as well. Nadya Herfi, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from Michigan State University (MSU) last year, went without all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with graduation. Her twin sister Alanah graduates from MSU this year with a Double Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory, Constitutional Democracy and Management, and older sister Mariah earned her Juris Doctor at U of D – Mercy’s Law School this year.

The family is saddened by their inability to celebrate like they want to. “Even though Nadya graduated last year, she was shafted in every way due to COVID,” say her aunt, Jenny Kalasho. She was glad to be able to submit the photos of all three for this publication.

Some cannot contain their excitement anyway, in spite of all the restrictions. Valerie Brikho told us she is “super excited” to have her first born graduate high school. Her son Gabriel will graduate from Troy Athens this year.

To most people, the act of graduating itself is a huge accomplishment, and for many in the immigrant community, it is a lifelong dream to see their children get that diploma. Sacrifice and hard work paved the way for the next generation and set an example of perseverance that has been called upon this year more than ever.

And of course, graduating is graduating. Freedom from studies, at least for the summer, and the self confidence that comes with accomplishment contribute to the overall feeling of well-being. The Class of 2021, whether high school or college, have overcome great obstacles to face a future that is more uncertain than ever. But they will prevail. This class will succeed in ways we cannot even imagine.