Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
Kelly Clarkson's reply
[video=youtube_share;nSFrPHWLKJg]http://youtu.be/nSFrPHWLKJg[/video]
[video=youtube_share;nSFrPHWLKJg]http://youtu.be/nSFrPHWLKJg[/video]
Tired of negative threads? This one celebrates the human spirit
- Thread starter Winter Woman
- Start date
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
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.
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"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
calicatt79
Well-Known Member
GREAT read! Very inspiring, I need to hear this good news more often.
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]
[video=youtube;VbhW_K3NvmQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbhW_K3NvmQ[/video]
cannofbliss
Well-Known Member
Niagara Falls... Niagara Falls... 
that was pretty awesome regardless of fingers or not...
what an amazing story as well...
that was pretty awesome regardless of fingers or not...
what an amazing story as well...
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
you know if anyone else here who wasn't respected like you, this thread would end badly 
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
[video=youtube;qX9FSZJu448]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qX9FSZJu448[/video]
cannofbliss
Well-Known Member
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
[video=youtube;U3NgzQ9Pcsg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U3NgzQ9Pcsg[/video]
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
you know if anyone else here who wasn't respected like you, this thread would end badly
I know I'm a sap for this stuff.
Some of my thread have ended sadly.
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
you know if anyone else here who wasn't respected like you, this thread would end badly
Comments like: If she can't do a... she could still do a blo.... oh, never mind.
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
Great vid, I loved it. You made me tear up and you know what? It felt good.
Who's music is that?
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
don't know the music , I find a bunch of good videos @ wimp. Its like you-tube but every video has some merit & no bs videos
http://www.wimp.com/
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
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]
[youtube]cW9a52fEANs[/youtube]
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
A gentleman, truly a gentle man.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
The "read alsos" make me lol ... there's the negativity, barely at bay ... cn
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
I should have edited it out. Shame on me. It is a way to ruin a great story of the human spirit.
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]
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