By Ivan Pereira
As the 806 graduates of York College in Jamaica marched through the campus to their commencement ceremonies at the school's athletic field Friday morning, their joy could not be contained.
"It feels like I've finished a long journey," said Oleg Iskhakov, 23, of Forest Hills, who earned his bachelor's degree from the school's Health Professions Department.
A few minutes after they took their seats, the students's excitement went up to a whole new level as U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) made a surprise appearance to congratulate the class. He told the graduates that their generation would be very influential in the future because they lived and learned during the age of the Internet.
"You are fluent in all of this new technology—I'm not," he said. "That means you have tremendous opportunity."
Schumer told the diverse group — 53 percent of black and Hispanic ethnicity— a personal anecdote about how he learned from his mistakes and persevered when he was a young adult.
When the Brooklyn native graduated from Harvard College, he said he was given a special scholarship to travel the world, but he turned down the offer when he fell in love with a girl. Fate, he said, had different plans as the girl went on a trip during the summer and ended up dumping him by the end of the season.
Despite losing two big opportunities, Schumer decided to get back on his feet, go to law school, earn his degree and enter politics. Within a few years he became the youngest New York State assemblyman in 1974.
"A few years earlier I didn't get the girl, but that November I won the election," Schumer said to a thunderous applause.
Many students said they took the senator's message to heart because they, too, were optimistic about their futures.
"I'm definitely more prepared to continue pursuing my education and work," said Maria Adamez, 29, of Valley Stream, L.I., who earned a bachelor's degree in nursing.
The ceremony kicked off an all-morning celebration among the student body. As much as the graduates enjoyed completing their years of hard work, their parents, friends and other relatives said they felt more proud watching them make it this far.
"She liked the college a lot," said Aslim Isakh of Hollis, whose daughter, Fazia Isakh, graduated with an English degree. "She always talked about how the faculty went above and beyond."
For some of the graduates, whose ages ranged from 20 to 64, a large amount of their support came from their children.
Aviva Thompson, 22, said she was exceptionally proud of her mother, Icilma Nicholls, 40, who graduated with a sociology degree and is the first woman in her family to complete college.
"It inspires me a lot because I'm next," said Thompson, who attends Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
