TO OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS ON GRADUATE APPRECIATION DAY
It is that time for Graduate Student Appreciation Day
And on this topic, we all have a great deal to say.
You came to us from many different world parts,
You came to study literature, culture, and the arts.
You came to work hard and show your very best,
And, of this, your mentors can trully attest.
Being a grad student with us is not an easy chore;
You do one set of assignments then there are more.
But you just keep moving and doing, doing, and do
Because for you, being here is a dream come true.
Many sacrifices you have had to make,
Earning a doctorate, you knew what it would take.
Challenges were expected; many came by surprise;
Some avenues turned out to be pitfalls in disguise.
Our program can be quite demanding and very intense.
Who knew de Vega, Cervantes and Fuentes could be so dense?
Fluency in Spanish and Portuguese is not nearly enough,
You have to learn literature, poetry, and all that other stuff.
Education is really a two-way, ever-changing street.
Both students and professors have specific goals to meet.
You do more than just absorb, endure, learn, and survive.
We have watched you develop as scholars, flourish and thrive.
You have kept you head and heart focused on the goal
Because those three letters—P H D, you will one day hold.
On Graduate Student Appreciation Day, we have you in mind,
But. our appreciation of you extends beyond this point in time.
All the best,
The Chair
The UCLA Spanish & Portuguese Department looks forward to showing our appreciation and celebrating our graduate students at our Get Your Game On! virtual gaming event on April 30th.
