Everyone worked to 'get it done'

It was my joy to attend the graduation of my only granddaughter from IU in Bloomington, Indiana. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends applauded and orderly cheered each graduate from the business school as they walked across the stage and received a facsimile of their diploma. (Actual diplomas are sent after all fees, including any parking tickets, are paid.) I was struck by the number of minorities among the graduates. Last names like Singh, Rodriguez, Pu, Lin, Zin, Jung, Dzakir and Jeong were printed alongside Anderson, Martin, Tyler and Smith in the commencement booklet. So many languages were overheard as we toured the campus taking pictures and sharing this wonderful experience.

Many of these minority graduates may have been from first-generation immigrant parents. Immigrants who wanted a better life for their families and chose to leave their native countries and come to America. My granddaughter is a descendant from immigrants, possibly escaping the potato famine in Ireland, pogroms in Russia and discrimination and possible death in Poland and Hungary.

All of these graduates, white, black and brown, minority or Anglos, share the accomplishment achieved by hard work. They will be the future CEOs, teachers, health professionals, musicians, journalists, architects and leaders of something called "Informatics Computing." A memorable phrase in the play Hamilton, says, "immigrants get it done." All of these graduates certainly got it done.

Judy Miller

Hoffman Estates