International Studies graduation ceremony: ‘You see the bigger picture’
On Friday 28 August, the Amare theatre in The Hague was buzzing with festive outfits, proud parents and graduation caps. More than 260 International Studies students received their degrees.
In his opening speech, Dean Henk te Velde referred to two International Studies alumni whom he had spoken to a few months earlier at the annual alumni event in Brussels. Whilst one attributed her success to her high marks, hard work and numerous work placements, the other cited all the activities outside her work and studies as the key factors in securing her job. ‘In the coming years, you will pursue your journey through life and discover what you can do and what you want to do with the skills you have acquired here’, said Te Velde. ‘Know that there will be space for each of you.’
For the first cohort of graduates, this search for their path took on a literal meaning shortly afterwards. As this year’s graduation ceremony was held at Amare for the first time, rather than at the Pieterskerk, it took a moment to work out the best way to walk onto the stage and, above all, exactly where the photographer was positioned in the hall. Once it was clear which way to face for the photos, the graduates were presented with their diplomas according to their regional specialisation.
Golden Stork Award
For Myriam Chouk, the afternoon had an extra special touch. She won the Golden Stork Award for the best International Studies dissertation. According to the committee, her dissertation offers an in-depth and original analysis of the radicalisation of Islamist women in the media between 2013 and 2016, drawing on analytical rigour, critical research and a distinctly international perspective.
‘You can do it’
The ceremony was brought to a close by Assistant Professor Hannah De Mulder. In her speech, she reminded the graduates of the qualities they have acquired over the past few years. ‘Maybe you know less about politics, economics, history, and culture than students who follow multidisciplinary tracks. Maybe your language skills are less developed than students who did a language specific based program. However, you know a lot about very many different things. You can see the bigger picture,’ she told her audience. For those moments when, despite everything, things may not go as well in the lives of the newly graduated alumni, De Mulder shared a quote from the American business leader Sheryl Sandberg. ‘If option A isn’t available, you just have to kick the shit out of option B.’ De Mulder: ‘I definitely wish you all the options A in the world, but if it doesn’t go your way, I know you are definitely the kind of people who can kick the shit out of option B.’