My Experience of a Practical, Personal And Pragmatic Education at Arrupe.
All Protocol Observed
Good morning respected lecturers, administrators, council, friends, parents and the amazing Class of 2023. My name is Charlotte Sibanda and I’m graduating with a Diploma in Ignatian Spirituality. It is such an honour to deliver this speech on such a special day, thank you for celebrating with us. I stand here to express the joy and gratitude experienced and shared by the students graduating with certificates and diplomas from Arrupe Jesuit University. This is the day God has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who made all our qualifications possible. Including this Diploma that I treasure so much! Thank you.
This has been a year filled with different experiences but above all my experience of Ignatian Spirituality. Our lecturers are profoundly good people who care about their students. Their energy was contagious and to this day there are things we will never forget because of how they were delivered. Our lecturers are passionate people and that would show that in every lecture. The most beautiful lectures sometimes meant listening to someone and being there for them through a season of their life. Prayer was also a firm and solid foundation of our lectures. For me, prayer was a reminder that yes, I am here to learn but only God made it possible. I think I speak for everyone when I say we are leaving this place as different people. We individually put in the work, from individual assignments and presentations to group assignments and presentations.
This has been a deep personal experience; relationships were formed and we will take these experiences as we move to the next phase of our lives. We have laughed and we have cried together. We have shared jokes and we have argued but the beauty of all of this was so we get to know each other better. It is what made us a unique class, united in our strengths and weaknesses. Our class demographics were interesting and also provided balance. I would like to see more young people take up the Diploma course for their Spiritual growth. The short courses and the executive courses are also worthwhile for career growth and progress.
I recommend them to all professionals who want to boost their careers! Or even to change them. The mode of delivery at AJU is unmatched. It is very practical, personal and pragmatic to the needs of a 21st century working class population. I have found comfort in my Diploma class to a point where I cried in front of the class midway through a presentation. They urged me to continue and from that moment I knew that I could literally tell them anything and there would be no room for judgement.
My fellow class of 2023. If there is one sentiment, I want you to take away from this speech, it’s this: You are all capable of taking on any obstacle that may lie in your life in any country in the world at any time of the year. You have all faced a challenging and demanding educational experience that has never happened before, and you overcame it, you made it worthwhile. As we go into the world may we continue to see God in all things.
Thank you!
Siyabonga!
Maita basa!
Obrigado!
Miss Chiedza Charlotte Sibanda
Diploma in Ignatian Spirituality
