During the annual Blessing of Students on May 3, 2026, Mian Hamid ’25, G’26, gave his own blessing to Hendricks Chapel. His heartfelt remarks resonated deeply with the audience, as they were filled with meaning and integrity. We invite you to read through this “love letter” and let it wash over you as students graduate and we move into summer’s beauty and fall’s bounty.
Here is Mian’s blessing:
Assalam Alaikum—may peace and blessings be upon you all—and good evening to our esteemed guests, graduating students, and dedicated staff.
As some of you may know, this moment is a little unique for me—I am graduating for the second time. Last year, I completed my undergraduate degree, and this year, my master’s. And I can say with full certainty that I would not be standing here today without the love, support, and community I found right here at Hendricks Chapel.
I often think back to the very first day I stepped onto this campus.
My family and I had just traveled from New York City, and one of the first places I made my way to was Hendricks Chapel. I had signed up for a pre-welcome program through the Muslim Students Association, not fully knowing what to expect.
But what I found here. . . changed everything.
I found mentors who guided me,
Life-long friends who supported me,
And a community that saw me—not just as a student, but as a whole person.
As someone who struggles deeply with anxiety, those early days were not easy. I remember going from class to class, feeling overwhelmed, and then returning to Hendricks Chapel—multiple times a day—just to sit, pray, be with my peers, and to reset.
And every time I walked in, I felt something shift.
A sense of peace,
A sense of belonging,
A sense of comfort that I can only describe as feeling. . . at home.
And that is exactly what Hendricks Chapel is; “a home for all faiths and a place for all people.”
But over time, I came to realize something even deeper.
This place is not just where we find community—it is where we become community.
During my time here, I’ve had the honor of serving in spaces like the Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders, where I’ve witnessed what it looks like when people don’t just tolerate difference—but engage in it, learn from it, and grow through it.
And what I’ve learned is this:
Interfaith work is not about agreeing on everything. It’s not about erasing what makes us different.
It’s about choosing to show up for one another anyway.
It’s about recognizing that someone else’s joy, grief, tradition, or belief—even if it’s different from yours—is still worthy of dignity and care.
And in today’s world, that choice matters more than ever.
We live in a time where it is easy to mirror what we see around us—division, misunderstanding, and distance.
But what Hendricks Chapel has taught me. . . is that we are called to do something greater.
We are called to model the world we want to live in.
A world rooted in respect,
A world built on empathy,
A world where difference is not feared—but embraced.
And to do that, we have to be more than observers.
We must be thermostats, not thermometers.
Because a thermometers simply measures the temperature of a room.
But a thermostats?
Thermostats change the temperature in a room
And every single one of us here has that ability.
Through the way we speak,
Through the way we listen,
Through the way we show up for people who may not look like us, think like us, or believe like us.
We have the power to shift environments,
To create spaces of belonging,
To build bridges where others might build walls.
So, as we step into this next chapter of our lives, I want to leave us with this:
Don’t just carry your degree with you, rather carry your humanity with you.
Be the person who reaches out,
Be the person who listens,
Be the person who creates space for others to feel seen and valued.
Because at the end of the day, the world does not just need more successful people.
It needs more people who are willing to care.
And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that this place has prepared us to do exactly that. I am truly confident that all of us have the ability to change the world for the better, step by step. We have all made it this far; so, let’s see where this next chapter takes us.
Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Mian Hamid’s roles at Hendricks Chapel:
Convener
Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders (SAIL)
2024-2026
Interfaith Engagement Coordinator
Hendricks Chapel
2024-2026
Inaugural Cohort Member
Global Interfaith Leadership Project (GILP)
Spring 2026
Member
Dean’s Search Committee
2026
Member
Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders (SAIL)
2024-2026
Member
Muslim Student Association
2021-2026
