It’s graduation time!
We can’t wait to see all of our graduates tomorrow at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington!
We are so proud of all our graduates. Your hard work, perseverance and dedication has paid off and now it’s time to enjoy the celebrations with family, friends, loved ones and your classmates.
Here we share the experiences of some of our graduates who are looking forward to the big day.
Hailey Lindblom
MA in PR and Advertising
In attendance will be my mother (Carla), my grandmother (Mary), my niece (Lennon), and my fiancé (Chris). I would say I am particularly excited to share this experience with my niece, Lennon, as I hope to inspire her to pursue her dreams through hard work and dedication. As the first in my family to graduate from college and now pursue a master’s degree, I want to demonstrate to her that anything is possible with perseverance and determination. This graduation ceremony will serve as a testament to our family’s unwavering support and my own personal growth and achievements.
As the graduation ceremony approaches, I am filled with a mix of emotions, pride, excitement, and a sense of readiness for what the future holds. Not only am I eager to celebrate my own achievements, but also those of my fellow classmates who have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone. Our collective dedication and determination have brought us to this moment, and it is truly an accomplishment worth celebrating.
My plans for the summer include continuing to explore job opportunities within the field of journalism, an area I’ve become (once again) increasingly passionate about throughout my time at Richmond American University London. I entered this program with little knowledge of PR and Advertising, but now I find myself constantly discussing these topics with friends and family- a testament to the engaging and transformative learning experience provided by the University.
The opportunity to connect with classmates and professors have been invaluable aspects of my journey. I want to express my gratitude for my family for their unwavering support, to Ian for his warm greetings and high-fives at the front desk, and to my professors, Ruth and Chris, for their guidance and encouragement.
To my friends Lauren and Nahomie, our study sessions have been instrumental in our success, and I cherish the memories we have made together. And to my entire class, I am beyond proud of each and every one of us- the future is indeed bright, and I cannot wait to see the amazing things we will accomplish.
In the words of the wise Mata Angelou, “you may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.”
CHEERS AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Rainey
BA Communications: Media Studies
I am very excited for graduation. My whole family, including my parents, brothers, and grandmothers, will be there. I am looking forward to walking the stage and accepting my diploma. I am also very excited to see my friends and fellow students walk, knowing all the hard work and effort everyone put into achieving this and earning their degree. I have the honour to speak at the Undergraduate ceremony, which will be exciting but also nerve-racking. I don’t currently have any plans for the future, but I am excited to start working.
Gregorio
BA International Sports Management with Men’s Football, RIASA
I am excited for graduation. To walk across the stage and receive my diploma is a moment I know I will always look back and cherish later in life. My plans involve becoming the best professional footballer I can be.
To accomplish this, I plan on applying for my graduate visa so I can use those extra two years to remain here training and staying ready for my next opportunity and very soon be living out my dreams and aspirations.
First and foremost, I would like to thank God, my Heavenly Father, for blessing me with the mental strength to recover fully from my ACL injury that I suffered in October 2021 the opportunity to be back here in England playing football.
Secondly, I would like to thank Lucia Morawska, Colin Howley, Samantha Bracey, Kirsty Ibbitson, Emmanuel Okeyere and all the rest of my instructors who continually guided me academically during my time away from RIASA October 2021 to early August 2023 whilst I was having ACL surgery and making my recovery.
Lastly, I would like to thank all my coaches: Coach Gareth, John, Jack, Martin, Kingsley who have all served a role in my improvement as a football player technically, tactically, and mentally. My experience at RIASA was a great experience, hard at times, but overall, I have no regrets. To conclude, I thank Mark Ellis, the Director of the RIASA Program, for all that he does behind the scenes. It has been a privilege to be a part of the RIASA program.
Olivia
MA Luxury Brand Management
I am thrilled and grateful to announce that I have been selected by the prestigious academic board of the university to be the student speaker at this year’s postgraduate ceremony in June. It is truly an honor to represent the incredibly talented and diverse class of 2023. I am looking forward to reuniting with my fellow classmates and professors in London, and hearing all about their amazing accomplishments. Can’t wait to see you all soon, Richmond! ❤
I want to express my gratitude to Richmond American University in London for its supportive professors, for their unique partnership with Conde Nast College and for offering the Luxury Management programme part-time. This gave me the flexibility to continue working and building my current career which I’ve been building over the past 8 years in London. Through this programme, I’ve expanded my network and learned the theoretical frameworks to support my practical experiences. Furthermore, thank you to the university staff for nominating me to attend The Business of Luxury Programme in the South of France. I am excited about this rare opportunity to expand my knowledge of luxury, the different luxury sectors, and the French art de vivre. I couldn’t have asked for a better parting gift.
A huge thank you to my friends and family, my employers and clients for their support and their role in making this dream a reality. I’d like to dedicate this achievement to my family back home in Athens, Greece especially my sister who is a freshman and who will be attending during the day. Living away from home for some time, I now understand the untold sacrifices of immigrating to a country for better opportunities and to make one’s dreams a reality. I would also like to dedicate this to my extended family in the Philippines, especially my younger relatives who are starting their journey in academia and their early careers. I hope I’ve opened a door for our family and inspired at least one to dream big and not fear change.
It has been 10 years since I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. To relive this moment again in a city like London is very special as it symbolises an achievement of a dream I had exactly around this time when I was working in Chicago. I am about to make a career transition, so graduation day officially marks a period of exciting change as I enter my 30s. I know that it won’t happen overnight, but I am confident with the knowledge, experiences, hard work, determination and an MA at Richmond combined with hard work, determination, passion and a little bit of luck that it will happen.
