January 2014
Tel Aviv, Israel
Sometimes, learning happens in quiet corners—late at night, long after the city has fallen asleep… or in the soft glow of a laptop screen when the rest of the world is still and silent. And sometimes, that learning leads to moments so joyful and fulfilling, they feel like small victories of the soul.
Recently, I had one of those moments—a heart-lifting, smile-inducing moment of celebration—as I virtually graduated from the Internet History, Technology, and Security course on Coursera, taught by the legendary Dr. Charles Russel Severance (fondly known as Dr. Chuck) from the University of Michigan.
This wasn’t just any online class. It was my first verified certificate with Coursera’s Signature Track, and to make it even more special, it was the first-ever Coursera course to hold a virtual graduation ceremony. Yes, you read that right—a real online graduation! 🎉
Dr. Chuck wasn’t just a teacher. He was a guide, a storyteller, a friend in the digital classroom. His warmth reached through the screen, making you feel seen and heard—even among thousands of learners. With every video lecture, every quiz, every weekly update, he brought the vast, complex history of the internet alive in a way that was engaging and delightfully human. His passion was contagious. And I caught it.
Though I had previously taken other non-credit online courses and earned certificates of accomplishment, this course felt different. It felt official, committed, and truly celebratory. That little blue-and-white certificate, with its sleek digital seal and my name printed alongside Dr. Chuck’s signature, now hangs proudly in my workspace as a gentle reminder: I can do this. I am doing this.
As someone juggling the hustle of daily life and the demands of work, the world of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has become my window to growth. Learning doesn’t have to be bound by four classroom walls anymore. With just a bit of dedication and an internet connection, the doors of Harvard., Michigan, MIT, and more swing wide open.
And speaking of Harvard, guess what’s next? I’m now enrolled in the legendary CS50: Introduction to Computer Science, taught by the dynamic Professor David J. Malan at Harvard University. It’s going to be a wild ride of logic, algorithms, and late-night “aha!” moments—and I can’t wait to begin.
So, if you’ve ever dreamt of learning something new, of polishing your skills, of finally diving into that course you always said you’d try—this is your sign. Don’t wait. Just jump in. Join me. Maybe we’ll bump into each other in a virtual lecture hall somewhere between Cambridge and Tel Aviv or Kathmandu.
After all, knowledge is borderless now. And the future? It’s clicking open right in front of us.
