Maghsoud “Hami” Eghrari

There’s only so much you can fit inside a suitcase. Immigrants know this by heart. Decades of memories and life shrink into a few sets of clothes, a couple old pictures ― taken out of their frames and put carefully between one or two favorite books ― a passport, a laptop, some medicine and some cash. Often there is no room for anything or anyone else ― parents or grandparents, brothers or sisters, friends or lovers. For one last time I breathed it in, my city, Tehran. The tall plane trees of Valiasr Street, the sweet smell of saffron ice cream in every corner, the fresh laughter of children playing soccer in tiny alleys.

Imagine hugging your loved ones not knowing when or if you’d see them again, and committing your city, your homeland to memory. This mere imagination is an immigrant’s reality. Through a 9-by-12-inch plane window, we watched as we left everything behind. And now I know the heaviest things immigrants carry are not their bags ― it’s their hearts.

I was 16, five years ago, when I first came to America from Iran. In a foreign world, I felt scared,

incompatible, broken, deprived. The only kind of loss I can compare immigration to is the loss of body parts. I felt without legs and expected to walk, without hands and expected to write, without eyes and expected to see, without a voice and expected to talk. Surrounded by such darkness, it seemed impossible to picture the sunlight.

Yet, as I started my academic career at UTD, amongst all of you beautiful people, I was welcomed with open arms. You filled my empty glass with magic, with hope. The first sip from that very glass gave me back the strength in my legs, the movement in my pen, the vision in my eyes, and the vibrance in my voice. Thank you to the many faculty members, loving friends and family, all of whose valuable support and sacrifice have given first-generation students like me an opportunity to pursue a future that was once distant and impossible. What UT Dallas gave us was not just a mere education; the school gave us a new home, a new family.

Time and time again, we realized that the dense diversity of backgrounds is what makes our UTD community vibrant, unique and alive. No matter our background, we gathered together here to celebrate one another. Here, our differences are not seeds of weakness, but of growth and unity.

Today, this hall is blessed with many moving stories, of us turning our crises into victories. Graduating among us are single mothers and fathers who sought an education despite their hardships; hardworking students who worked full-time jobs to pay for their education and provide for their families; and friends with severe mental illnesses who continue to choose life. Today, we celebrate all of us ― every graduating Comet ― striving for excellence. We made this achievement hand in hand, together.

Lastly, I would love to share with you the story of a child I know, who severely stuttered for 17 years, since the age of 5. A child who used to stumble on every single syllable. A child who was scared of words, of public speech, or any speech, yet he never gave up on his dream: a fluent voice. To that broken child, I once promised this day, I promised this moment, I promised the impossible. Today, that now 22-year-old child is me, absolutely honored to share this sweet moment of joy with each and every one of you.

As we depart from this point, let us not forget that we are the glimmers of hope for a world that needs it now more than ever. So, let us do what Comets do. Let us orbit the greatest light and our fullest potential.

To a brighter future, friends. To many more impossibles. Thank you!

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Maghsoud “Hami” Eghrari is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare studies (pre-med track) and a minor in creative writing. He came to The University of Texas at Dallas from Collin County Community College in January 2020. Since then, he has been on the University’s dean’s list, a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. Throughout the pandemic, he has served as a volunteer at different health care facilities, including primary care clinics and the UT Dallas COVID-19 vaccination site. After graduation, he will pursue a career in creative writing, as he is an aspiring poet and writer, as well as pursue a career in medicine.