I’ve photographed lots of events before – weddings, conferences, concerts – but never a graduation. So I was happy and excited to photograph this event. Part of the benefit of being a photographer is being able to share the happiest moments of peoples lives. Seriously… what better way to spend a day than hanging out with excited people and helping them capture these amazing memories. This is also why I’m an event and portrait photographer, I love working with people. I’ve never been into fine art, I can’t stand waiting around for hours for the perfect sunset, and I’m not into animals or architecture. All of my photography is working with what I love, people.
This group of SNU International Development Study graduates were as diverse as a jar of jelly beans. They came from, I think, 5-6 different African countries, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Philippines, Indonesia, and a few more I can’t remember. It was a miniature UN. It’s amazing that our global development has reached a point that people from 20 different parts of the world are joining together to study in this not-so-long-ago remote corner of the world in Seoul. It blows my mind.
I want to pass along what I told my MBA class when I graduated two weeks ago: As graduates we have the resources and intelligence to reach for our dreams. But I hope our dreams are worth it. The world is full of talent, intelligence, and riches, and I hope for all of those things for you. But what the world needs is good and courageous people. Woody Allen once said “Talent is luck. The important thing is courage.” I wish you all the best!
Black Eyed Peas – Union (ft Sting)
