Dear readers,

    Hope all is well! So what’s new? For most of us, the semester is officially over. More importantly, commencement was last week, so congratulations to the Class of 2014!

    Unlike high school graduations, college commencements can occur over several days. In addition to an all-university graduation ceremony, individual colleges within the university may hold independent ceremonies as well. There is an important distinction between colleges and universities. “University” is a broad term, and represents a collection of colleges, such as a business school, an arts and sciences college, a college of engineering, etc. One would belong to a college within a university, and therefore might attend more than one graduation event. Colloquially, the two terms are interchangeable.

    This year’s commencement address was held at the Yankee Stadium. Around 8,000 students, undergraduates and graduates, received degrees for completing their education at the university. For all the baseball fans out there, Yankee Stadium shouldn’t sound too foreign. It is home to the New York Yankees, a Major League baseball team, and stands as one of the most expensive stadiums ever built. Janet Yellen, the chair of the Federal Reserve Board, delivered the commencement address this year, advising the audience to overcome failure with grit. It was a symbolic and momentous day for all the graduates and their friends and families. Graduation is a nod to years of hard-earned academic achievement. Better yet, it marks the beginning of a new phase — whether it’s a first full-time job, an enriching graduate program, or any other aspiration!

    Against the dark skies, the Empire State Building lit up in a gorgeous purple color in honor of the commencement. To all graduates everywhere — congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors!

    Sincerely,

    Bingyin