Sociology Club Celebrates Sociology Program Graduates
UA Little Rock’s Sociology Club hosted the Sociology Big Event on Dec. 5. The event celebrated the sociology program along with its professors and graduates.
The Sociology Club‘s event was lively, with many smiles and laughs shared among the professors and graduates. Graduates received many congratulations and valuable words of encouragement from the sociology program professors.
First to speak was Dr. Jiabin Fan, who emphasized the importance of community and encouraged students to maintain their special bonds with one another after graduation.
“An invaluable asset to you is your community,” said Fan. “Look around you! You are quite literally surrounded right now by amazing people. People with talent and goodwill. People with whom you’ve bonded through countless hours of class time. Hold on to these relationships like your life depends on it.”
Dr. David Briscoe told students not to let others’ negative opinions restrict their success, reflecting on his own perseverance despite dealing with cynics.
“The best is yet to come,” Briscoe said. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make it. Look what you’ve already demonstrated! I got two of my degrees here. I had those naysayers who said I wasn’t going to make it. And they should have never said that to me. If you say no to me, I’m going to prove that there’s a yes.”
Dr. Kinko Ito encouraged students to make continual use of their sociological understanding while facing the obstacles and challenges that life will throw at them.
“People might say anything to you. I want you to remember that you cannot change them, but you can change your perspective. You can’t change reality, but you can change your perspective. If you’re kind, positive, and good, everything will work.”
To close, Dr. Neveen Shafeek Amin congratulated students and gave them a caring reminder never to compare themselves to others but to acknowledge their own successes.
“Congratulations on achieving this great milestone in your life. I know you all have had so many responsibilities, but you did it. I wish you good luck in your future endeavors. Remember, never compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to yourself in a year or two years. See how far you’ve come.”
