By Eleanor Wilson
Bunjil Place was a sea of graduation caps and gowns on Wednesday, as students from Federation University’s Berwick campus celebrated their graduation.
300 students celebrated the milestone in front of friends and family, after two years spent adapting to learning online during the Covid pandemic.
The return of university graduation ceremonies is a pleasant surprise for many students who spent years wondering if the pandemic would prevent them from celebrating in person.
Kanzah Fatima, who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce, said there was a “very energetic and positive” energy shared at the ceremony.
“It was like a dream for me. Seeing everyone at graduation and being able to go onstage I felt very proud, and I hope I can now grow further,” she said.
The Berwick campus cohort are some of 1500 graduates across Federation University attending graduation ceremonies this week.
Federation University vice-chancellor and president Duncan Bentley said the graduation was a display of the “bright and optimistic future that we’ve got ahead of us.”
“You just look at their faces and see the brilliant light in their eyes and their parents and supporters and families as they come together to celebrate something which is a dream come true,” he said.
“Particularly for the Berwick region we have such diversity… and they will be the future of Australia and I’m very proud of them.”
Despite only officially graduating this week, many of the students have already started the next chapter of their professional lives, including Ms Fatima, who has secured a job at an accounting firm.
“I feel like I’m getting a broad range of experience as a fresh graduate and I’m looking forward to reaching my goal of becoming a forensic accountant,” she said.
