Shaghaf Mawlawi (Syria)

Fall 2008 Final Ceremony Student Speaker

Good morning…

Once upon a time there was a girl who decided to sail away in pursuit for her dream in that wonder land, they call the United States. She packed her ambition in a small bag, printed a farewell kiss on her country’s forehead and was carried away by the wind of change. That girl’s first experience in the United States was here in ELI. She started her first semester with a little confidence and a big fear of the three English classes that she was taking .However, something magical about this school and the motivation and the hard work of the great teachers could take her skills to new levels of perfection. While she started writing a one simple paragraph, she ended with a good ability to search, summarize and analyze to hand in ten pages of an academic composition. At this school that girl has learned how to speed up her reading and comprehension skills. She has learned how to leave her bashfulness behind and how to be confident enough to talk in English before a large crowd like what she is doing right now. I really appreciate having a chance to learn English in such a reputable school. I appreciate the great efforts of the teachers. I’m grateful for their encouragement, their personal care, their open heartedness and wide open doors whenever any student needs help.

Unfortunately, this is the end of my journey in the ELI where I have built a solid ground to start a new path in collage. I will leave carrying with me the valuable treasure that I’ve won her in the ELI. I will never forget Dr.Keth Morice walking around, greeting students with a big smile and delicious cookies. I will never forget the teachers who were fully detecated and helpful. I will never forget the enjoyable classes that were not only a serious and quiet studying place, but they turned in a minute into a theater, concert, and an indoor picnic. I will never forget that crazy printer in the computer lab when it goes south and stops working because the students press the bottom print at the same time and just five minutes before the classes start. I will never forget my friends whose different nationalities, different cultures, and different believes did not ban us from making a strong friendship. Indeed, I have learned from those wonderful people as much as I have learned from papers.

At last but not least, I sang once in one of the talent shows it’s a small world after all, it is really a small world after all here in the ELI. I hope the real world out there could be lovely, peaceful, and fair for everyone just like here at the ELI.

Thank you