Welcome from the President of Mary Immaculate College Dear Graduate, It is a bittersweet privilege to be writing to you for this Ceremony of Recognition, which is a virtual celebration of your academic and other notable achievements. Conferring ceremonies are occasions of wholehearted celebration for us all, marking as they do what are highlights in MIC’s calendar year. In any normal year, you would deservedly expect to celebrate your proud accomplishment in the company of those who have helped you along the way: your families, friends, classmates, lecturers and other staff members. The pageantry and formality of the graduation ceremony attests to the importance of what is happening for the graduates, their families, and indeed for the College itself. However, as we now know, 2020 was far from a normal year and, unfortunately, as one of the many casualties of the global pandemic, you were denied the age-old tradition of celebrating these achievements in the company of all those who supported and encouraged you along your journey. In place of our annual four conferring ceremonies, a special convocation meeting took place online between Professor Kersten Mey, President of the University of Limerick and myself, whereby all 2,084 graduands were conferred in absentia with their academic awards. While the social restrictions around COVID-19 may have prohibited us from celebrating in a proper and time-honoured way, it will not thwart our efforts to recognise your remarkable achievements, accomplishing what you have against the backdrop of a global pandemic. You met a litany of challenges during your course of study here at MIC, more so than any other preceding graduating class, but you successfully and bravely overcame them, displaying a determination and strength of character that will serve you well throughout your life. Therefore, it is with great pride that, on behalf of the entire MIC community, I congratulate you, the Class of 2020, on reaching this tremendous milestone under such adverse conditions. We are so very proud of you all. The most successful graduates have one thing in common: the wisdom to realise that their time in College provides them with an essential foundation for life and the means to unlock the doors of opportunity. And, crucially, they possess the willingness and courage to grasp those opportunities when they come their way and to realise that a career has many possible paths. Don’t be deterred by unfair criticism. As the philosopher Aristotle has written: There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. Be open to possibility and to the idea that deviating from an obvious path can lead you to a place you might never have considered but which could offer you immense satisfaction and reward. I trust that you will carry warm memories of the College with you as you reflect on the time you spent studying here. I hope also that you will keep in touch with the friends that you have made in MIC and with the members of staff who have guided and inspired you. We wish you well and hope that you continue on your journey of excellence. While we cannot be together today, we very much look forward to welcoming you back on campus sometime in the future; perhaps as you further your studies, maybe even as employees, but most certainly as alumni. As a graduate of MIC, you join a community of alumni (www.mic.ie/alumni) that ultimately makes the world a better place through their ideas, innovations and engagement. You too, have the ability to develop and shape ideas that will make a positive and lasting impact on the world. With every good wish,
Professor Eugene Wall President, Mary Immaculate College
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