As another generation of business school students conclude their studies we ask them to reflect on Graduation Day and the lifelong impact of their studies…
- Name: Irene Maria Musumeci
- Position: Senior Developer at ReActive
- Institution: OPIT – Open Institute of Technology
- Degree: MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-maria-musumeci/
How does participating in a graduation ceremony help you emotionally mark the end of your student journey and prepare for what’s next?
Participating in the graduation ceremony was deeply meaningful to me. During my bachelor’s degree, I couldn’t celebrate due to the pandemic, so this moment felt like reclaiming something I had missed. It wasn’t just a celebration, it was a space for reflection, inspiration, and connection.
Listening to the talks and my peers’ dissertations enriched me in unexpected ways. It reminded me that learning is not only about reaching a goal, but also about sharing the journey and growing through others’ perspectives.
What does it mean to you to be recognized publicly for your learning and accomplishment – and who do you feel you’re representing as you cross the stage?
Crossing the stage felt like a moment of truth: a way to express who I am and everything I’ve poured into this journey. It wasn’t just about academic success, but about the joy of perseverance, the courage to keep going, and the dreams that kept me moving forward.
“Graduating is not an end, but a new beginning. It’s a starting point for the next phase of learning, a shift in mindset shaped by everything I’ve absorbed along the way.”
– Irene Maria Musumeci
I felt I was representing not only myself, but also the people who believed in me, supported me, and walked beside me through every challenge.
In a world where learning never really ends, what does ‘graduating’ mean to you – and what kind of impact do you want to make with what you’ve learned?
To me, graduating is not an end, but a new beginning. It’s a starting point for the next phase of learning, a shift in mindset shaped by everything I’ve absorbed along the way.
Each educational milestone updates you, like a new version of yourself, not unlike an AI model that evolves with every new dataset. But in truth, it is we humans who teach the machines how to learn, because we are the first to live life as a continuous process of discovery, adaptation, and growth.
I hope to make a meaningful impact not only in my personal life but also in the corporate world I’m part of, by bringing fresh ideas, encouraging innovation, and giving back some of the value I’ve received throughout my journey.
What is the single most memorable aspect of your studies that you will remember long after graduation?
What I’ll carry with me the most is the international atmosphere: vibrant, forward-thinking, and full of passionate minds. It was more than just a place of study; it was a living ecosystem of ideas, cultures, and human connections.
The people I met, driven by curiosity and purpose, helped me grow in ways no textbook ever could. That human capital, fuelled by passion, is what made this experience truly unforgettable.
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