Video: A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

Video captures the joy, pride, and inevitable sadness that comes with letting go

Photo: A group of individuals hugging and embracing each other as the look up at the camera. A woman with braces smiles, behind her a man with a flannel and glasses holds her shoulder and smiles, next to him, another woman with her hair pulled back smiles with their heads next to each other. On the right, a woman with glasses nuzzles into the embrace, peaking a look at the camera with her one visable eye.
Student Life

A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

Video captures the joy, pride, and inevitable sadness that comes with letting go

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A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

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Student Life

A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

September 7, 2023
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Pride. Joy. And a little heartbreak. That pretty much sums up what the parents of this year’s BU freshmen felt as they dropped their young adults off last week to begin their college careers.

In our annual “Saying Goodbye” video, parents and students weigh in on what they’ll miss most as they prepare to part and begin a new chapter in their lives. Video producers Koeun Neak and Pam DeBarros met up with families on West Campus to capture the emotional send-off. Take a look. And make sure you’ve got the tissues handy.

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Video: A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

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  • BU Today staff

    BU Today staff Profile

  • Koeun Neak

    Photo of Koeun Neak, a young asian american man with short black hair. He smiles and wears a blue shirt with a white collar.

    Koeun Neak comes from an illustration and painting background, but graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a BFA in film/video production. Before BU, Koeun worked at a video production company, where he filmed and edited videos for corporate, nonprofit, and academic clients across North America. Then he went on to win state and national awards for documentaries he produced at a local TV station north of Boston. Profile

  • Pam DeBarros

    Pam DeBarros Profile

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There are 3 comments on Video: A Bittersweet Ritual: Parents Bid Their BU Freshmen Goodbye

  2. Oh, I am crying. That was so touching. But I still feel a little envious of the students whose parents can accompany them to college. I come from Guangzhou, which is in the southeast part of China. It would take a 15-hour straight flight to get to Boston. So I had to carry all my luggage on my own. But anyway, I got very emotional watching the video. I really miss my parents back in my hometown

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  3. I’m very proud for my daughter Kilee Simon. She is going to be such an asset to this College and this College an asset for her.
    She is a boarding school graduate so we were prepared for this college adventure. I’m very appreciate that she has embarked on this pivotal point that we’ve been waiting for for the past few years.
    I’m filled with wonderful emotions of joy, accomplishment and expectation. This opportunity has exceeded my expectations and I’m thankful my daughter is her to learn so much, and I’m excited to learn with her.
    I told her upon her acceptance letter, Kilee BU!
    Thank you for choosing my daughter. Class of 2027.

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