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Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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Four Lehman Graduates, Four Journeys to the Same Stage
From left, student commencement speakers Lakiesha Young, Samrin Alam, Sakib Uddin Shikder, and Cynthia Franco
May 19, 2026
The four students speaking at Lehman’s Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies arrived at Lehman College by different paths: as international students finding their place far from home, as a mother and child welfare professional pursuing a doctorate, and as a healthcare worker returning to finish a degree years after she began. Their stories, however, share a common thread: Each student has described their pursuit of higher education not only as an academic achievement, but as an act of courage, resilience, and love—for their families, their communities, and the people they hope to serve.
Lakiesha Young, who is graduating with a B.S. in Health Services Administration, returned to school after more than a decade working in healthcare. At 39, she describes herself as proof that there is no single timeline for finishing a degree. What’s more, as the first on her mother’s side of the family to graduate, Young said the milestone was not only personal, but generational. To reach it, she balanced classes, a challenging job, late-night studying, family responsibilities—and, in her final year, pregnancy—proving that, as she says, it is never too late to finish what you started. Speaking of her children and younger family members, she said “I wanted to be more than someone who told them to chase their dreams. I wanted to show them all what it looks like.”
Samrin Alam, an international student from Bangladesh, is earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. She chose Lehman even after being twice admitted to Baruch College—widely known for its business programs. For three and a half years, she commuted from Long Island to campus, spending four hours a day on the train. While others questioned her choice, she never did: Lehman felt like the right place to be. Here, she found a community that helped her grow, opportunities that led to internships and finance programs, and the confidence to found Women in Finance. “Today, I can confidently say that Lehman has given me more than an education,” said Alam. “It has given me a second family, a purpose, and a deeper sense of empathy.”
Sakib Uddin Shikder, also an international student from Bangladesh, is earning a B.A. in psychology. He arrived at Lehman carrying uncertainty, homesickness, and the challenges of studying in a third language—worried he would never fully belong. While those fears were soon dispelled by the welcoming faculty, staff, and students he got to know, Shikder also faced obstacles including food, housing, and financial insecurity. He commends the professors, staff, and campus resources that not only helped him succeed, but also find confidence and community along the way. “With the tons of resources it offers,” Shikder said, “Lehman is an incubator for international students—a place for us to grow up and dream big.”
Cynthia Franco, graduating from Lehman’s doctoral program in educational leadership, traces her achievement through generations of deferred dreams. Her father was pulled from school in the fourth grade and later came to the United States, where, barely scraping by, he taught himself English and eventually achieved success in business. Her mother dreamed of becoming a nurse but was told her place was in the home. Franco arrived in the United States after graduating high school in the Dominican Republic and later attended John Jay College as a young mother. Working in the City’s child welfare system led to Lehman’s master’s program in social work; a second degree in organizational leadership followed, and now, a doctorate. Lehman helped her find her voice and the courage to challenge oppression. “This journey transformed me,” Franco said. “Somewhere along the way, through the support from my professors and peers, I found something I didn’t know I had: audacity.”