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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1999)
The fin le Battalion Aggielife Page 3 • Friday, May 7, 1999 Ibeonj: 5-3465': Like father, like son r. Tahir Masood and son Bilal Tahir share graduation untji rial i (API - BY BETH FOCHT The Battalion fter four, five or even six long years of classes, football games, friends, and fun, many leave Aggieland with rial memories held close to their hearts, a diploma in their hand and continue will road. ce De;M ( T ra ^ u ^i on a bridge into an unchart- = r sew H h an d where friends and family cheer he trials ^ ie new graduates, rjth rirJFor one Aggie family, this semester’s ith. ^duation is a family affair. smanJirtlDr. Tahir Masood and his son, Bilal ; the a r 'P a r, will graduate together in the Friday ay. 1 Mht graduation ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in helpcc^lod Arena, when the degree candidates withttifi'"olleges o{ Architecture, Business and ByrdJr.'Werinary Medicine wili receive their ; chainelf lomas. kup tjMasood will be receiving his second i rural r * D. Tahir, a senior, will receive his un- s. • ■'graduate degree in biomedical science. »e capita||Tahir said that he and his father gradu- n WilliarB'tg in the same semester and at the same j andse ce! ?mony is coincidential. forByrc:B“This really just happened by chance ndanflihriDad and 1 are graduating together,” he 2, is exil'd- “Dad started his second Ph.D. 10 'dthe™r irs a g° when I was in middle school, r y t 24,’Md at that time, I had no clue I would be at A&M. f impost:! |“Dad had a 90 percent chance of grad- tax hikelfting last spring, but for one small tech- se 0 f 'ilk ility, he is graduating this spring,” Tahir but thr sa 'd- ials expeil Masood said he had not planned on »r. Thdtr&.iAuating this spring. raise a®' ■ “I had planned on completing much earlier, but it turned out not to be so,” he said. “Now, I feel that God wanted my son and l to graduate together, and 1 am hap py that that we are graduating from a great institution that houses some of the best hu man beings, teachers and students.” Even though graduation can be an ex citing time, it brings tension and stress to the lives of many students. From finding a job and passing all of their classes to paying those two-year-old parking tickets and sending out graduation announcements, the demands on soon-to- be graduates can seem overwhelming. Tahir said he has gone through a vari ety of pains and thinks most graduating se niors go through similar situations their last semester at Texas A&M. “I think it is so stressful your final se-’ mester because of the stress you have to encounter from getting in touch with fam ily, friends, getting your gown and tickets and then trying to make the most out of all of the opportunities you do not want to miss out on with friends, religion and with activities,” he said. “These sound like small things, but they all add up and you are trying to do everything you can before you leave.” Even with all of these added stresses, most Aggies are ready to leave and join the ranks of the former students. Most emotions tend to be mixed as this is a time of remembering the years spent in Aggieland. Tahir said his emotions are mixed be tween looking forward and looking back when it comes to graduating. “I am sad because I will not have as much free time after graduation when I am in medical school, but at the same time I am happy because I am getting closer to my goals and getting closer to doing some thing meaningful,” he said. “1 think if someone paid me to be a stu dent, though, 1 think I would be one for life.” Masood said his emotions about gradu ating are like any other graduating student. “Last time I wore a black gown as a pro fessor and now I am going to wear it as a student with my wife, friends, my daugh ters and teachers all clapping for me,” Ma sood said. Along with the mixed emotions, gradu ating seniors remember the traditions, the special and favorite times at A&M. Tahir said his favorite memory of being an Aggie was the chance to meet so many friendly people. “I think the atmosphere at the Univer sity was wonderful [with everyone’s] en couragement and willingness to help,” he said. “I just think spending four years in teracting with friendly, down-to-earth peo ple who are supportive of each other was one of the greatest experiences 1 had as an Aggie.” Masood said he has some final words for the graduates. “I am proud to be an Aggie and a proud father of two Aggies,” he said. “I pray for the smiling faces of the students on this great campus, and may God bless every one and they each get what they want in life.” SALLIE TURNER/The Battalion Dr. Masood Tahir, who will be recieving his second Ph.D., and his son Bilal Tahir, who will be recieving and undergraduate degree in biomedical science, will gradu ate during the same Friday night ceremony. A JTTL OKINCF NTHUS1A ividual' ther developl Hinting and 1 ] skills It's the MT^VT 1 T'T> A TM’TTAlVn JlN n JL X Jk\~ xJL XXX vx X N ♦ The Association will sponsor half of your new Century Club Membership TEXAS A&M OF FOfWMEU STTlJCCWnrS CENTURY club member Marino Casas E k McPherson* rVan Scoit^ laugherty,^ dre Perkins," 1 ' 1, atj hristl Beanie" ‘ mgawe^fhf;’ jeffWolfsh* 1. ent PublicationS'J !13; 1 Battalion- ie summer- fo"*' FREE Block Party May 12, 1999, 5:30-7:30|>m Williams Alumni Center Plaza Food, music S a bunch of other free stuff! Pick up your FREE tickets May 12 from 8:OOam-5:OOpm at the Alumni Center Pick up your sticker at the Williams Alumni Center May 12 and 13 The Association of Former Students