M S B S P R O G R A M A S S I S TA N T D I R E C T O R - S H E R I D A I L E Y
WELL WISHES
Dear MSBS Graduates, Proudly hanging on the wall in my office is the photo taken on the lawn outside Levine Hall of your class on orientation day. I look at each face smiling back at me with such pride and admiration! Each one of you has risen to the challenges presented to you while in the MSBS program, particularly those that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. You have shown incredible growth and maturity in how you have handled each challenge. William Ellery Channing once said, “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” There is no denying that ‘the COVID era’ has been a tumultuous time, however, your mental fortitude and resilience saw you through. In the past two years, you have learned being flexible is fundamental to succeeding. Sometimes being flexible meant adjusting study skills, and sometimes it meant learning to embrace online learning platforms, and sometimes it meant getting creative in ways to form virtual study groups. You were flexible when it mattered, yet resolute in accomplishing what you set out to do. As I reflect on that photo taken that very first day I see friendships made, I see individuals with a steadfast commitment to reaching their goals, I see compassion, intelligence, and beautiful souls. I fondly recall you stopping by to see me (or was it the candy jar J) not only to talk about the program, but also sharing life experiences, photos of family or pets, stories and laughter. As you move forward from this point to embark on the next stages of your professional lives, I hope you will always look back at your time in the MSBS program as a place where you were surrounded by those who believed in you, and recognized that you are capable of great things! Pause for a moment … really take it in … you did it! Sheri Dailey Assistant Director of the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program “WHERE THERE IS NO STRUGGLE, THERE IS NO STRENGTH.” – OPRAH WINFREY 4
