08/24/2026
“I’ve officially earned my master’s degree and am the first on both sides of my family to reach this incredible milestone. This journey has been far from easy. There were sleepless nights, long days, sacrifices, tears, and moments when I questioned if I had the strength to keep going. But I did. Through faith, resilience, and an unshakable determination, I made it to the finish line. I want to especially thank my husband, who stood by me through every class, every paper, and every moment I had my laptop in hand whether we were on vacation, at family events, or just trying to enjoy a quiet evening. This degree means breaking generational chains, rewriting my family’s story, and showing the next generation what’s possible. I didn’t come from this; I became this. Just a girl from Hempstead, New York, proving that with hard work and purpose, anything is possible. To my loved ones who cheered me on, thank you for believing in me.”
- Takeyma Pean, MS in Health Informatics and Analytics, 2025