Howland's 2014 grads includes one who knew no English 2 years ago

WARREN

Yousef Mousa was one of 230 Howland graduating seniors awarded diplomas in commencement ceremonies at Packard Music Hall Wednesday evening — an amazing feat considering that less than two years ago, he did not speak English.

A Palestinian living in Dubai, Mousa moved with his family to Howland with his family and enrolled in classes in the 2012-2013 school year.

“I didn’t know much,” said Mousa whose native language is Arabic, “so I tried to think in English [and] I watched American movies with Arabic subtitles.”

He attributed his ability to absorb his new language to the help he received from Susan Brucoli, a computer science teacher. “She really helped me,” he said.

Brucoli said she was equally impressed when she first met him.

“I put him on the yearbook staff,” she said. “He’s accomplished so much.”

Mousa said educators in Dubai tend to be stricter with students than at his new alma mater, but he is impressed by the relationship at Howland between teachers and students. “They do great work over here and they are so nice,” he said. He plans to study biology and take pre-med courses at Kent State University.

Read more about the commencement and Howland's 2014 grads in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.