WASHINGTON - "We’re officially alumni of American University – where everyone is so special that special becomes normal." The second line of the commencement speech given by Fanny Ahman, 2022 graduate of AU and AU Volleyball, gave a glimpse of the humor and wit that was to come.

Ahman applied for and was ultimately chosen as the undergraduate student speaker for the commencement ceremony for AU's School of Communication and School of Education on Saturday, May 7. She is herself now an alumna with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in international studies. On the court, Ahman played libero and defensive specialist for the Eagles for two seasons, providing an undeniable spark in the back row during key stretches of the 2021 season.

After some early humor in her speech, Ahman told a story of her grandmother growing up in a remote northern Swedish town and breaking barriers to earn an education before passing the torch to her granddaughter. Ahman, who began her experience in the States at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, felt “imposter syndrome” on her arrival to American. But the fire within and her desire to learn and grow was the thread that connected her to her peers.

While Ahman expected to be nervous on stage at commencement, she found that a familiar feeling took hold instead. “It felt like gametime,” she remembers, and there she was on her home court, as the ceremonies for American all take place in Bender Arena. There to see Ahman graduate and speak were her parents and grandmother, all of whom flew from her home country of Sweden. 

In another few weeks, Ahman will head out to Santa Cruz, Calif., to spend the summer playing beach volleyball. She plans to continue that sport back home where she has already had great success in the past. Beyond that, her future is unknown but she'll be on the lookout for opportunities. Given her student-athlete background, her attitude, her willingness to leave her comfort zone, and her AU degree, the future is certainly a bright one for Ahman.