On June 20 and 21, I had the privilege of attending two very special graduation ceremonies at Universidad Europea: the graduation of our Bachelor’s students in Business Administration and that of the 2025–2026 cohort of the Master’s Degree in International Trade and Economic Relations (MUCREI), which I direct.
For different professional and personal reasons, I had missed the graduation ceremonies of my students during the previous three years. I knew that some of them had been disappointed by my absence. This year, therefore, I made every effort to overcome the difficulties and be present. Graduation is an important milestone not only for students, but also for their families and professors. It also gave me the valuable opportunity to meet their parents and to understand their university journey from both perspectives.
The graduation of the English-taught Business Administration students was particularly meaningful. When these students entered the university, I was also beginning my own journey at Universidad Europea. I had signed my contract only a few days before their first classes and was preparing to teach two new subjects: History of Economic and Social Thought and Macroeconomics II.
At that time, I had very limited teaching experience and certainly could not yet teach with the knowledge and confidence that I have today. Nevertheless, during the ceremony, the students called out my name twice. It was an extraordinarily emotional moment. I am deeply grateful that they recognized not only my imperfections, but also my commitment and effort.
This academic year also marks my third year as Director of the Master’s Degree in International Trade and Economic Relations. I have learned enormously throughout this period, and I am very pleased that the feedback from this year’s students has been more positive than in previous years. At the same time, I have not forgotten the valuable suggestions—and even the criticism—offered by the 2024–2025 cohort, such as Jackson Pagel, Teresa Pérez Rodríguez, Enrico Sabino and Irene Sánchez Paniagua. Their honest opinions helped me improve the program and perform my responsibilities more effectively.
Every student I have taught has contributed to my development. Their questions have strengthened my teaching, their ideas have inspired new research, and their experiences have helped me become not only a better university professor, but also a more thoughtful researcher engaged in public policy and market-oriented institutional reform.
These graduations reminded me of a simple but essential principle: with humility, we can always continue learning.
Congratulations to all our graduates. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you during part of your journey. I am proud of everything you have achieved, and I look forward to seeing the value you will create in the years ahead.
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How to Cite this Article (APA 7th edition)
Wang, H. H. (2026, June 27). What My Students Have Taught Me: Reflections from the 2026 Graduation Ceremonies. https://williamhongsongwang.com/2026/06/27/what-my-students-have-taught-me-reflections-from-the-2026-graduation-ceremonies/
