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.
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Battalion-
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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