When Maya Soetoro-Ng addressed the more than 10,000 people packed into the Stan Sheriff Center for the University of Hawaii's commencement exercises yesterday, Liane Iaukea, a political science graduate in her 60s, felt President Barack Obama's sister was speaking directly to her.

“;I could relate to what she was saying. I thought it was beautiful, but not flowery. ... We've all been there,”; said Iaukea, a single mom who put her two daughters through college, then spent 30 years taking various classes at community college and at UH-Manoa before getting her degree.

Soetoro-Ng, who holds two UH degrees, told the audience: “;Given that my brother defied many odds to become the president of the United States, I almost started out by saying you can do anything.

“;The truth is that I don't quite believe that to be true of everyone; there are people here born with inherited obligations that keep choices limited,”; she said. “;Some have encountered enormous and debilitating hardships. ... But even if you can't do everything you want, you can certainly do a great deal.”;

Yesterday, UH-Manoa awarded about 1,600 undergraduates and 800 postgraduate diplomas in ceremonies on campus.

Some graduates had to overcome hardship.

Nina Birge, 28, got pregnant while at UH-Manoa, left to be with her family on Kauai, then moved back to finish. It took her 10 years, “;but I never gave up and he (her son Damarion, now 3) became another motivation for me to finish.”; She plans to teach high school history.

Iaukea, a registered nurse who took college classes because she wanted to keep learning, plans to work helping disenfranchised women and children.

Chris Mendoza, 25, first in his family to receive a bachelor's degree, said: “;I get goose bumps when I think about it.”; A biology major for three years, he switched to ethnic studies because he said it was more interesting, and “;my mind was able to expand more,”; but is wavering between dentistry and law. “;I'm just excited right now. I want to do it all.”;

Patrick D'Agostino, 23, a San Diego native who wants to stay in Hawaii, plans to use his sociology degree to work in human resources for a large company or the Department of Veterans Affairs. “;With the economy, I just want to get a good job.”;

» Click here for a list of graduation ceremonies.