Young blind Cuban graduates with a gold degree from the University of Holguín

Cristian Berlanga Rosales, a young blind Cuban, graduated on July 16 with a gold medal as a Bachelor of Law from the University of Holguín (UHo).

Their story of perseverance has touched the university community and has also been publicly recognized as an example of effort, persistence, and faith in the future.

The news was shared on Facebook by the First Vice-Rector of the University of Holguín, Manuel Alberto Leyva Estupiñán, who highlighted the young man's determination.

"Cristian is blind; he cannot see the color of the trees, but he possesses the light of giants within him, the color of the smile of those who overcome, the sound of hope in a homeland that must be built by all and for all," he emphasized.

"It has been a beautiful day," Leyva wrote on social media, referring to the graduation day that coincided with the anniversary of José Antonio Echeverría's birth.

"How much joy, nostalgia, and uncertainty there is about the new stages of professional life. Among all the images, I hold on to that of a young boy, a warrior, a conqueror of utopias."

According to the Ministry of Higher Education of Cuba, as reported on its official page, a total of 1,819 students graduated in this cohort from the University of Holguín, across all modalities of study.

Of them, 238 received the Gold Title and 86 were recognized with the Scientific Merit Award for their outstanding research work.

The University of Holguín itself celebrated its 57th graduation in its official channels as a "reality" filled with emotions, where its students received the degree that certifies them as higher education professionals.

But among them all, Cristian's story stood out as a symbol of inspiration.

Silently, with his own light, this young man demonstrated that visible barriers cannot overshadow the will of those who dream of transforming their reality.

The bravery of the Cuban people is particularly evident in the stories of those who, facing extreme adversity, choose to forge a path toward a better future.

A young Cuban mother recounted the harshness of the migration journey to Mexico, carrying her young daughter in her arms, through mud, dangers, and nights spent outdoors, unsure if she would survive the journey. “It’s difficult, but everything passes,” she said, maintaining her faith.

Others have transformed pain into art. A Cuban migrant in Mexico found a way to stay afloat by performing as a clown at children's parties, bringing smiles in exchange for dignity.

With its red nose, it not only entertains but also represents thousands who arrive with nothing, yet refuse to be defeated by uprootedness.

Creativity also becomes a source of support when everything else fails. Kendra, a mother from Havana, began selling printed songs on paper along the Malecón.

What began as a way to feed her daughter transformed into a demonstration of poetic resistance against precariousness and institutional indifference.

There are also those who face brutal migration routes. A young Cuban recounted the odyssey experienced to reach the United States, crossing jungles, rivers, and hostile territories.

His testimony summarizes a determination that knows no borders, where surrender was never an option.

Even with extreme physical limitations, some do not give up. A Cuban father with one leg managed to cross the Rio Bravo to reunite with his daughter.

Frequently asked questions about the graduation of Cristian Berlanga Rosales at the University of Holguín