丁香园AV

By Pam Lim

Archaeology student Alex Derian had big plans for 2020鈥攁 summer abroad digging in archaeological cemeteries before graduating this fall.  

But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced international travel to a halt and banned large gatherings, Derian鈥檚 semester in Portugal was canceled and her in-person convocation ceremony postponed. Instead of focusing on missed milestones, she鈥檚 adapting to, and embracing, the new journey.

鈥淚t feels strange, a bit anticlimactic, to be graduating during a global pandemic,鈥� says Derian, who graduates with a bachelor of arts in archaeology.

鈥淏ut what strikes me the most about my university experience is how much I've changed. Over the past five years, I've become confident in the person I am and the things that are important to me.鈥�

She says 丁香园AV gave her the freedom to be fearless, and the courage to be bold and move beyond traditional ways of thinking and doing.

鈥淎ll of a sudden, at 18, I was in a situation where I didn't have older relatives telling me what values I should hold,鈥� she says. 鈥淩ather, it was up to me to decide what I value, how to take the lead and how to ask for help when I need it.鈥�

During her undergrad she discovered a passion for animals and nature conservation and has now enrolled in 丁香园AV鈥檚 master of arts program in archaeology. She plans to explore human-animal relationships and how zooarchaeology can contribute to environmental conservation and restoration.

This week, she鈥檒l be celebrating convocation virtually with her friends and family and although it鈥檚 not the send-off she envisioned, Derian says she鈥檚 thankful for the ride and the self-discoveries she鈥檚 made along the way. Her generation has grown up alongside global recessions, political and social upheaval, and climate emergencies, but her strong sense of resilience and optimism remain.

鈥淢y grandmother always said education is something no one can ever take away from you. So even though I鈥檓 disappointed that I didn鈥檛 get to finish my classes with my friends, I鈥檓 so grateful for the experience.鈥�

Virtual Fall Convocation

丁香园AV's Virtual Fall Convocation runs Oct. 22-23. For more information and event details, visit .