Ruachkuoth Thiwat Deng Dear Friends and Members of Nuer Family:

RuachKuoth Thiwat Deng from Nasir County

3 Purchas St. Apt # 3

Portland, ME 04102

(207) 699-7645

Dear Friends and Members of Nuer Family:

I’m writing to you, dear friends, to announce that I have graduated from my city’s adult education with high school diploma program in Portland, ME. After completing all of the required courses, beginning from my first year here in United States, I have received my diploma in a graduation ceremony on June 2, 2009.

In writing this message to you, dear friends, as a note of encouragement to show you that with motivation and hard work, all is possible. Opportunities like this are available in the United States, no one is “too old” to return to school. Education is a precious gift but one that is attainable here in our new country, and not only for our children. We, as parents and community members, must too educate ourselves and pursue our goals. We must do it for ourselves as much as for our children. What better role model than a father or mother who graduates and goes on to college alongside his own sons and daughters?

I was a teacher in Ethiopia, specifically primary and junior secondary school in Dimma Refugee camp for eight years. However, that did not mean that I was done with my learning. I encourage all of you to find your local adult education and begin your own quest for knowledge. To reach your goal might take one year or ten years but you will grow each step of the way. Education is a gift, but we must remain open to receive it.

Best wishes,

Ruachkuoth Thiwat Deng

6/20/2009 5:58 AM

Deng Bol Letter from former student of Uncle GatThiwat

Dear Uncle Thiwat Deng,

I am extremely glad to see your real picture with graduation clothe. It is clear that you are very excited to convey message to all younger and older people in our community and telling them that is not too late to acquire qualification in school. I enjoy your general encouragement. Overall, you are great man. A family man who care with other people to achieve similar opportunities in school.

Calling you as skilful man and still bear in my mind your kindness, it was time when we were living in refugee camp, especially Dimma. At refugee, Dimma, I came late and found all classes were full and semester one had gone. There was no place for new student. With your greatness, when you saw me I was greedy to learn or study, you made your intellectual plan to find way which allowed me to get a place in the second term. The plan came with positive result and gave me a new name that might letting me in and sat with national examination in grade six. At that time, it was a first time for grade six students to sit with national examination in the camp. Through your humanity, you did allow me to enter with name which began with alphabet Z-means Zachariah Deng Majiok. I was continuing with that name through out the year. If you were not there I could not be able to achieve my educational goal in primary school level.

Seeing your graduation picture on discussion board it has made me so happier than anyone else indeed. Your dedication in school has also motivated me, concurrent with fantastic encouragement to all ages either old or young none of them can make it happens to succeed or obtain qualification as you have done while your age is over 40 years. I would say to you thank you so much with magnificent achievement. I am very confident that your hard working and carrying with other people to achieve similar opportunities in school will be credited to you. I will not be forgotten what you did to me whereas I completed primary school up to grade twelve in Ethiopia. Hopefully, I consider you are going to bring another certificate very soon.

To conclude this sensitive letter to my former brilliant mentor, educational achievement you have received is great. This achievement is a reminder to all your former students who have given up their schooling as they are still small ages. For almighty God, we shall meet one day when time permits us. Confer my greeting to your family and other people who are now residing in the state with you at the moment. I am very positive that some of your former students will be responding like me as well.

Once more, thanks for your achievement.

Your former student,

Deng Majiok Bol

Melbourne Australia

“Education is knowledge”

6/21/2009 10:06 PM

Gatluak Guandong Khor Congratulation Mr. Thiwat Deng

Congratulation Mr. Thiwat Deng

Dear, Thiwat Deng.thak you very much uncle and congratulatrion you again for what you done.graduation. education is key for a very body even you old men, women.child, or young boys and girls. all we are disame position. i am very happy for your encouragement your ward to a very body to participation to do what ever you can. eg, like education, you committed yourself to do it. now you achieve your goal (Uncle) my advice ie this uncle you continue your study still you get your degree, don't give up. school there is no age eg, you say iam 45 year old i can't do that no don't say

thank you very much

god bless you and your family in U.S.A

WELL DONE

Iam brother Gatluak Guandong Khor

Australia. Adelaide

6/23/2009 3:38 PM

Peter P. Doyiech Congratulations:

In the meantime, I would like to congratulate you for your accomplishment of earning your high school diploma at Portland, City Adult education. Indeed, your dedication and determination were stimulated a grateful evident to the entire community.

I can tell you that education is a life long learning for individuals, but in the other hand it is a vital benefits for the community. Once again, I would like to pursuade you to go further studies to fulfill your desired and commitment. May God bless you all!!

With best wishes, I am

Peter Panom Doyiech

Minneapolis, MN

6/24/2009 11:25 AM