{"id":35959,"date":"2015-10-19T11:51:21","date_gmt":"2015-10-19T15:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=35959"},"modified":"2015-10-19T13:23:04","modified_gmt":"2015-10-19T17:23:04","slug":"video-graduation-day-bittersweet-for-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2015\/10\/video-graduation-day-bittersweet-for-international-student\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Graduation day bittersweet for international student"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flexvideo\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qhN9nG3dYNw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"page-intro dropcap\">Aysha Othman was sitting on her couch surrounded by stacks of study books preparing for her CPA exam, when her phone rang. She stared at it with a sinking feeling in her chest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It was her mother, calling her directly rather than through the app she usually used. The 21-year-old didn\u2019t want to pick it up. She knew something was terribly wrong.<\/p>\n<p>She went numb, her mind blanking as her mom broke the news that her older brother Said, 24, was dead.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019d just spoken to him the day before.<\/p>\n<p>Within hours, Othman was on a plane headed home to Tanzania.<\/p>\n<p>She stayed for a month before returning to Brock University, where she graduated with a Master of Accountancy degree Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s probably going to be hard,&#8221; she said before convocation, her second this year. \u201cIt will be bittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brother Said was here in June to watch her walk across the stage for her Bachelor of Accounting degree. He was supposed to come back Oct. 17 along with her mother, aunt and cousin.<\/p>\n<p>He was very proud of her and her academic accomplishments. Shortly before his death, Said posted a collage of photos of the two of them on Facebook and bragged about her upcoming graduation.<\/p>\n<p>When she spoke to him the day before he died he said he was feeling unwell. He\u2019d been battling an attack of sickle-cell anemia but it was Malaria that caused his death. With his compromised immune system, he couldn\u2019t fight the mosquito-borne illness.<\/p>\n<p>She still can&#8217;t believe he&#8217;s gone. The loss hits her in the gut when she allows herself to think about him.<\/p>\n<p>He was her big brother. Her friend. Her inspiration.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I came to Canada because my older brother was studying here,&#8221; Othman says.<\/p>\n<p>Said went to the University of Toronto and studied finance and economics. Othman followed and started at Trent University before switching to Brock for its renowned accounting program.<\/p>\n<p>Othman is among the first graduates of the MAcc program at the Goodman School of Business. Brock was the first business school in Ontario to be accredited at the Master\u2019s level by Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and Othman said the intensive program was challenging and rewarding. She strived to do her best, the thought of her brother a constant motivation.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pull-quote\">My brother left a huge footprint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In 2012, Said returned home to Tanzania, where their father is the country&#8217;s chief justice, to work as head of trading in a bank.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My brother left a huge footprint,&#8221; Othman says. \u201cThis was the biggest loss for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Othman, a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honours Society, says her brother&#8217;s death has changed her path.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have to re-evaluate my life and prioritize. Now I see how important family is,&#8221; she says. &#8220;I was planning to settle down here but now it makes sense for me to go back home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She says she wants to be there for her family and to help enable her younger brother Amin, 20, to continue studying abroad in England, where he is working on a law degree at the University of Southampton.<\/p>\n<p>Because Othman missed her Chartered Professional Accountants exam \u2013 a three-day, intensive test that accountants must pass to be certified \u2013 when she went back to Tanzania, she will have to take it in May.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday Othman beamed as she graduated in front of her loved ones. She sat in the front row at the convocation ceremony and when she walked across the stage, she could hear the pride of her family as they cheered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur mom is always our No. 1 fan,\u201d she said. \u201cShe comes to every graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In June, Othman will be in England with her mom to watch as her younger brother accepts his degree.<\/p>\n\n\t    <style type='text\/css'>\n\t        #gallery-791532900 {\n\t            margin: 0 auto 50px auto !important;\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900 ul {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important;\n\t            list-style-type: none;\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t        #gallery-791532900 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        \/* margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 10px 10px 0 !important; *\/\n\t            float: left;\n\t            text-align: center;\n\t            \/* width: 33% !important; *\/\n\t            box-sizing: border-box;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900 img {\n\t            border: 0 !important;\n\t            width: 100% !important;\n\t            height: auto !important;\n\t            box-sizing: border-box;\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900 img.widthauto {\n\t\t\t\twidth: auto !important;\n\t\t\t\tmax-width: 100%;\n\t\t\t\tmax-height: 100%;\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\/* Column layouts *\/\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-1 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 0 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 100% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-2 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 49% !important;\n\t            }\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-3 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 32% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-4 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 23.5% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-5 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 18.3% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-6 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 15% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-7 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 12.5% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-8 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 10.7% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        #gallery-791532900.columns-9 li.gallery-item {\n\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t            width: 9.3% !important;\n\t            }\n\t        \t            \n\t        \/* last thumbnail *\/\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-1 li.gallery-item:nth-child(1n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-2 li.gallery-item:nth-child(2n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-3 li.gallery-item:nth-child(3n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-4 li.gallery-item:nth-child(4n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-5 li.gallery-item:nth-child(5n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-6 li.gallery-item:nth-child(6n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-7 li.gallery-item:nth-child(7n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-8 li.gallery-item:nth-child(8n+0),\n\t\t\t#gallery-791532900.columns-9 li.gallery-item:nth-child(9n+0) {\n\t\t        margin-right: 0 !important;\n\t\t        }\n\t\t        \n\t\t    @media only screen and (max-width: 840px) {\n\t\t\t    \n\t\t\t    #gallery-791532900 img.widthauto {\n\t\t\t\t\tmax-height: 69px;\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\/* Enforce 3 across layout on mobile *\/\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t#content #gallery-791532900 ul li.gallery-item {\n\t\t\t        margin: 0 2% 0 0 !important; padding: 0 0 2% 0 !important;\n\t\t            width: 32% !important;\n\t\t            }\n\t\t        \n\t\t        \/* reset right margin *\/\n\t\t       \n\t\t\t\t#content #gallery-791532900 li.gallery-item:nth-child(3n+0) {\n\t\t\t        margin-right: 0 !important;\n\t\t\t        }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t        \n\t    <\/style>\n\t    <!-- see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php -->\n\t    \n\t    <script type='text\/javascript'>\n\t    \tjQuery(document).ready(function(){\n\t    \t\tjQuery('a.gallery-791532900').featherlightGallery({\n\t\t\t    \tpreviousIcon: '<span class=\"fa fa-angle-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>',\n\t\t\t\t\tnextIcon: '<span class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>',\n\t\t\t\t\tcloseOnClick: 'background',\n\t\t\t\t\tgalleryFadeIn: 300,\n\t\t\t\t\tloading: '<span class=\"loading fa fa-circle-o-notch fa-spin\"><\/span>',\n\t\t\t\t\topenSpeed: 300,\n\t\t\t\t\tafterContent: function() {\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Add a div for the caption if needed:\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthis.$caption = this.$caption || jQuery('<div class=\"caption\" \/>').insertAfter(this.$content);\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthis.$caption.text(this.$currentTarget.attr('title'));\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t});\n\t\t\t});\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t    \n\n<div id='gallery-791532900' class='gallery columns-3'><ul>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4755-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman shakes hands with fellow Goodman School of Business grads at the request of Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo, during her speech.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4755-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman shakes hands with fellow Goodman School of Business grads at the request of Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo, during her speech.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4566-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman sits among her Goodman School of Business peers at convocation.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4566-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman sits among her Goodman School of Business peers at convocation.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4861-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman, left, graduates with a Masters of Accountancy Oct. 17.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4861-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman, left, graduates with a Masters of Accountancy Oct. 17.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4869-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman shakes hands with Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo during her graduation Oct. 17.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4869-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman shakes hands with Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo during her graduation Oct. 17.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4863-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman, left, cheers as she graduates with a Masters of Accountancy Oct. 17.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4863-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman, left, cheers as she graduates with a Masters of Accountancy Oct. 17.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='gallery-item'>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4391-1600x1067.jpg\" title=\"Aysha Othman, 21, graduated with a Masters of Accountancy from the Goodman School of Business Saturday, Oct. 17.\" data-featherlight=\"image\" class=\"gallery-791532900\">\n<img src=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/IMG_4391-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"Aysha Othman, 21, graduated with a Masters of Accountancy from the Goodman School of Business Saturday, Oct. 17.\">\n<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr style='visibility: hidden; clear: both; margin: 0;'>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aysha Othman was sitting on her couch surrounded by stacks of study books preparing for her CPA exam, when her phone rang.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":35960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[119,3319,1],"tags":[3333,3494,156,3493],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35959"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35959"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35972,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35959\/revisions\/35972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}