Tired of negative threads? This one celebrates the human spirit

Winter Woman

Winter Woman

Well-Known Member
New York: For years, Gac Filipaj mopped floors, cleaned toilets and took out trash at Columbia University.

A refugee from war-torn Yugoslavia, he eked out a living working for the elite Ivy League school. But Sunday was payback time: The 52-year-old janitor donned a cap and gown to graduate with a bachelor's degree in classics.

As a Columbia employee, he didn't have to pay for the classes he took. His favourite subject was the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca, the janitor said during a break from his work at Lerner Hall, the student union building he cleans.

Also Read




"I love Seneca's letters because they're written in the spirit in which I was educated in my family - not to look for fame and fortune, but to have a simple, honest, honourable life," he said.

His graduation with honours capped a dozen years of studies, including readings in ancient Latin and Greek.

"This is a man with great pride, whether he's doing custodial work or academics," said Peter Awn, dean of Columbia's School of General Studies and professor of Islamic studies.

"He is immensely humble and grateful, but he's one individual who makes his own future."

Mr Filipaj was accepted at Columbia after first learning English; his mother tongue is Albanian.

For Mr Filipaj, the degree comes after years of studying late into the night in his Bronx apartment, where he'd open his books after a 2:30-11 p.m. shift as a "heavy cleaner" - his job title. Before exam time or to finish a paper, he'd pull all-nighters, then go to class in the morning and then to work.

On Sunday morning in the sun-drenched grassy quad of Columbia's Manhattan campus, Mr Filipaj flashed a huge smile and a thumbs-up as he walked off the podium after a handshake from Columbia President Lee Bollinger.

Later, Mr Filipaj got a big hug from his boss, Donald Schlosser, Columbia's assistant vice president for campus operations.


read the whole story here: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/janitor-graduates-from-columbia-university-210642
 
Winter Woman

Winter Woman

Well-Known Member
How absolutely beautiful. How she can do this without fingers on the right hand is beyond me. Well playing anything is beyond me.

[video=youtube;VbhW_K3NvmQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbhW_K3NvmQ[/video]
 
cannofbliss

cannofbliss

Well-Known Member
Niagara Falls... Niagara Falls... :cry:

that was pretty awesome regardless of fingers or not...

what an amazing story as well... :)
 
FR33MASON

FR33MASON

Active Member
This girl's spirit is way lifted....

[video=youtube;TfViBYZ9bw4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfViBYZ9bw4[/video]
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
Winter Woman said:
Wasn't it just the other day that they found that sunscreen is now causing cancer-seriously.
Click to expand...
Do you mean Retinyl Palmitate potentially being photocarcinogenic? If so the issue is really about moderation, honestly. The bigger danger is from the over estimates of blocking and people thinking it's a get out of jail card to never cover up.

As for the video I believe we (baby boomers), maybe the last generation that must die. That for our grandchildren there maybe a choice. Technology is frightening and incredible.
 
Total Head

Total Head

Well-Known Member
i don't think i've seen this one posted on this site anywhere. i have no way of knowing what the boy truly felt but for two whole minutes i forgot all about my distaste for humans in general. around 30 seconds in you can see the singer nod to the mom that it was cool. faith in humanity restored.

[youtube]cW9a52fEANs[/youtube]
 
Winter Woman

Winter Woman

Well-Known Member
Total Head said:
i don't think i've seen this one posted on this site anywhere. i have no way of knowing what the boy truly felt but for two whole minutes i forgot all about my distaste for humans in general. around 30 seconds in you can see the singer nod to the mom that it was cool. faith in humanity restored.

[youtube]cW9a52fEANs[/youtube]
Click to expand...
A gentleman, truly a gentle man.
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
Winter Woman said:
New York: For years, Gac Filipaj mopped floors, cleaned toilets and took out trash at Columbia University.

A refugee from war-torn Yugoslavia, he eked out a living working for the elite Ivy League school. But Sunday was payback time: The 52-year-old janitor donned a cap and gown to graduate with a bachelor's degree in classics.

As a Columbia employee, he didn't have to pay for the classes he took. His favourite subject was the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca, the janitor said during a break from his work at Lerner Hall, the student union building he cleans.

Also Read




"I love Seneca's letters because they're written in the spirit in which I was educated in my family - not to look for fame and fortune, but to have a simple, honest, honourable life," he said.

His graduation with honours capped a dozen years of studies, including readings in ancient Latin and Greek.

"This is a man with great pride, whether he's doing custodial work or academics," said Peter Awn, dean of Columbia's School of General Studies and professor of Islamic studies.

"He is immensely humble and grateful, but he's one individual who makes his own future."

Mr Filipaj was accepted at Columbia after first learning English; his mother tongue is Albanian.

For Mr Filipaj, the degree comes after years of studying late into the night in his Bronx apartment, where he'd open his books after a 2:30-11 p.m. shift as a "heavy cleaner" - his job title. Before exam time or to finish a paper, he'd pull all-nighters, then go to class in the morning and then to work.

On Sunday morning in the sun-drenched grassy quad of Columbia's Manhattan campus, Mr Filipaj flashed a huge smile and a thumbs-up as he walked off the podium after a handshake from Columbia President Lee Bollinger.

Later, Mr Filipaj got a big hug from his boss, Donald Schlosser, Columbia's assistant vice president for campus operations.


read the whole story here: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/janitor-graduates-from-columbia-university-210642
Click to expand...
The "read alsos" make me lol ... there's the negativity, barely at bay ... cn
 
Winter Woman

Winter Woman

Well-Known Member
How typical of this man. Always thinking of others. His speech really starts at 1.25 [video=youtube;Upm9LnuCBUM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upm9LnuCBUM[/video]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top