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Advice from the Class of 2024

Advice from the Class of 2024

From the Class of 2024

  

  

  

Read words of wisdom from some of the many talented and innovative students who graduated in May 2024, leaving inspirational legacies鈥攚ith advice and reflection鈥攆or those who follow. 

 

 

What will you carry forth?

Ava Barnett

Ava Barnett

 My time at CU has taught me the importance of leading with kindness, empathy, and integrity鈥攑rinciples I am proud to carry with me into my next chapter.鈥

  Fin, Acct鈥24
  Leeds Undergraduate Impact Award

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Joe Constancia

Joe Constancia

 No institution has impacted my life more than CU 麻豆影院. Ten years ago, I came to CU as a recycling collector. Since then, some of my most significant milestones have taken place on this campus. The opportunities and kindness I have received have humbled and inspired me to pay it forward. My confidence and belief in my abilities are at an all-time high, and I am excited to use my skills and education for the betterment of both my community and the world.鈥

  惭驳尘迟鈥24

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Sydney Kheng

Sydney Kheng

 I will carry my passion for diversity into my next chapter. The unwavering support of the Office of Diversity Affairs at the Leeds School of Business has been instrumental to my personal and professional growth. As I transition to the next phase of my life, I am committed to paying forward this support to uplift and inspire the diverse communities that lie ahead. I am forever grateful for the dedicated staff and amazing friends who have supported me these past four years!鈥

  BusAna, Mktg鈥24
  Leeds School of Business & Office of Diversity Affairs Visionary Award

Bethany Morton

Bethany Morton

 As I have learned more about the complexities of the education system and issues of injustice and deficit perspective, my professors not only showed the importance of advocacy but also showed me ways to be an advocate for teachers and students. From improving my capacity to support students鈥攕ocially, emotionally, and academically鈥攖o understanding what truly serves students鈥 needs, my experiences at CU 麻豆影院 have equipped me to be an advocate for students and teachers.鈥

  惭贰诲耻鈥24
  Outstanding STEM Education Master鈥檚 Graduate

Silvia Ortiz

Silvia Ortiz

 The most profound, significant lesson I take away from my time at CU 麻豆影院 is this: All of our students come to us with various gifts and talents. It is up to us, educators, to explore such gifts and talents and leverage them to inspire and nurture independent learners and thinkers. By disrupting injustices created by systemic oppression, we give our students opportunities to thrive.鈥

  惭贰诲耻鈥24
 Outstanding Education, Bilingualism, and Biliteracy Master鈥檚 Graduate

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Shelby Robert

Shelby Roberts

 I will carry with me the generous, inspiring and collaborative spirit my peers and professors have shown me throughout my time here.鈥

  惭耻蝉,惭耻蝉贰诲耻鈥24

Doha Shahba

Doha Shahba

 My time at CU has taught me the importance of learning things outside of my comfort zone鈥攁nd the perseverance it takes to do so鈥攁nd having a strong community behind me when facing challenges. I could not have accomplished my goals without the support of my family, friends, faculty and community in the Office of Diversity Affairs at the Leeds School of Business and the Business and Engineering Women in Technology program.鈥

  Acct, Fin, 惭驳尘迟鈥24
  Leeds School of Business & Office of Diversity Affairs Outstanding Senior Award

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Nic Tamayo

Nicolas Tamayo

 I will take with me the connections I鈥檝e been able to make with people from so many corners of life. They鈥檝e taught me lessons that I may never have learned without their friendship and mentorship.鈥

  Fren, Jour鈥24
  William W. White Outstanding Senior Award; Fulbright awardee
  President, CMCI Student Government

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Your best piece of advice

Lisa An

Lisa An

 I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.鈥

  Art, CritMediaSt鈥24
  William W. White Outstanding Senior Award

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Nikki Bechtold

Nikki Bechtold

 Take advantage of all the incredible opportunities that the university has to offer. Look on bulletin boards, read your emails and join as many clubs as you have time for. Some of my best experiences happened from the organizations and clubs I randomly joined.鈥

  叠耻蝉鈥24
  Leeds Office of Diversity Affairs Salesforce Intern; Leeds Welcome Desk Specialist; Leeds P2P Mentor Executive Team Member

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Peyton Biggers

Peyton Biggers

 Take advantage of the many opportunities available at CU. Join clubs, attend sporting events, spend time on campus, and immerse yourself in the community. Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone!鈥

  BusAna, Mktg鈥24
  Leeds Academic Excellence Award; Marketing Division Outstanding Student Award

Aja Bos

Aja Bos

 I would tell future students to keep their minds and options open going into CU 麻豆影院. I changed my career path several times in college, and I think it's important to remember to enter a degree you are passionate about for the sake of your future and not the future others think you should have.鈥

  EBio, Anth鈥24

Elijah Boykoff

Elijah Boykoff

 Your professors are people just like you. Get to know them鈥攊f you are able to resonate with your professors on a deeper level, you will be much more enriched by the knowledge they have to share.鈥

  滨苍蹿辞厂肠颈鈥24
  William W. White Outstanding Senior Award

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Vincent Bursey

Vincent Bursey

 Say yes to new opportunities and environments that have you feeling uncertain about the outcome. Your best friends and support group may be waiting on the other side!鈥

  InfSys, 惭驳尘迟鈥24
  Leeds School of Business & Office of Diversity Affairs Outstanding Senior Award

Eleanor Gentry

Eleanor Gentry

 Work hard but rest harder鈥攜ou won't actually remember anything you do on no sleep or when you're so stressed you can't focus. If you stay on top of resting, then you won't struggle to get things done.鈥

  Phys, WomSt鈥24

Luke Hatton

Luke Hatton

 Take advantage of all of the resources available to enrich your experience. There is so much more to benefit from beyond just time in the classroom.鈥

  惭叠础鈥24

Robert La Trobe

Robert La Trobe

 Be a leader in class and school organizations. It will enrich your school experience, hold you to a higher standard of excellence and ultimately help you land a job you're proud to have earned.鈥

  MBA, MSSCM鈥24

MarieFaith Lane

MarieFaith Lane

 My advice to fellow students is to embrace the interconnectedness of their passions and skills. I encourage others to see themselves as universal musicians, trusting their individual paths and pursuing diverse disciplines that allow them to explore versatile career options. Especially鈥攂eyond becoming skilled musicians and broadly based professionals鈥擨 urge other students to prioritize developing empathy and kindness in all aspects of life.鈥

  MMus鈥22; Artist   Diploma in Solo Performance 鈥24
 Graduate Teaching Assistant; Communications Assistant

Samantha Lane

Samantha Lane

 When you feel overwhelmed or stressed, feel it fully, as these emotions are valid and part of the college experience. It is through these experiences and emotions that you grow the most. So embrace the chaos that is college, and know that every experience and every emotion, whether good or bad, is valid and brings beauty and strength.鈥

    尝别补诲颁辞尘尘贰苍驳尘迟鈥24
  Outstanding Leadership and Community Engagement Graduate

Milena Pajevic

Milena Pajevic

 I would advise other students to make efforts to leave their comfort zones! All of my best experiences in college (including my friends, classes, and adventures) were due to me pushing past my comfort zone and trying new things.鈥

  惭颁顿叠颈辞鈥24

Bianca Perez

Bianca Perez

 Every connection I made at internships and with professors, every assignment and application, every interaction with peers in class, and every hour at the library has been in some way meaningful to me. Pay attention to the details because they coalesce together into a bricolage of knowledge.鈥

  Comm, MediaSt鈥24
  William W. White Outstanding Senior Award

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Andrew Schwartz

Andrew Schwartz

 Explore classes outside of your discipline鈥攜ou will learn more in a class about something new to you than in one you鈥檙e already familiar with.鈥

  InfoSci, Phil鈥24
  William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award

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Victoria Zaugg

Victoria Zaugg

 College can be an incredibly chaotic time, and tough, emotional situations are bound to happen; sometimes it's because we aren鈥檛 perfect people either. Try to focus on having a growth mindset that allows you to learn, have fun, build self-compassion and recognize that perfection is an unattainable goal.鈥

  Psych, Soc鈥24
  Learning Assistant for PSYC 3102 Behavioral Genetics; LA Mentor

 

 

What graduation means to you

William Solorio Hernandez

William Solorio Hernandez

 Graduating from college is a monumental achievement that represents all of the hard work my family and I have done to succeed in America. My parents moved to Colorado from Mexico before I was born and never got to pursue a higher education, and yet they were able to make a living in Colorado. Their dedication and grit inspired me to pursue a degree in physics, and I would not have made it this far without their support.鈥

  Math, Phys鈥24

Emma Hoeschler

Emma Hoeschler

 Graduating from CU 麻豆影院 represents a long-held dream of becoming an active change-maker in my community. The skills and knowledge I have developed throughout my time at CU have prepared me to be a teacher who empowers her students to think critically about our world and work to advance our communities for the better.鈥

  Edu, Hist鈥24
  Outstanding Secondary Humanities Undergraduate Teacher Licensure Program Graduate

Er-Hsuan Li

Er-Hsuan Li

 As a first-generation college graduate, it is certainly a dream come true to earn a doctorate. With the challenges of the pandemic and a year of mandatory military service, I am proud of overcoming all the difficulties with resilience over the past few years. I learned to be a well-rounded musician, prepared to be a confident professional in the field. I will cherish all the connections I made at CU.鈥

  笔丑顿惭耻蝉鈥24
  Dean鈥檚 Graduate Student Grant; Nancy Brogden Booker Collaborative Pianist Award; James and Lola Faust Chamber Music Scholarship

Norma Marquez

Norma Marquez

 Graduating from CU 麻豆影院 with a master鈥檚 degree further validates all the sacrifices, obstacles and challenges my family and I have faced while trying to make a better life and establish ourselves in this country. This further exemplifies how education is the best way out of generational poverty for our communities. I would not be where I am today in my career had it not been for this program.鈥

  惭贰诲耻鈥24
  Program Manager for the Pre-Collegiate Center, CU Denver

Sujei Perla Martinez

 Graduating means carving a path for those in my family where there once wasn鈥檛 one. Growing up, I saw my mother work hard jobs to raise my brother and me. Every day, I try my hardest to show my mother that her sacrifice wasn鈥檛 in vain. I wouldn鈥檛 be here if it weren鈥檛 for my community, and for them I鈥檓 grateful.鈥

  厂迟谤补迟颁辞尘尘鈥24

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Nataly Diaz Ortega

Nataly Diaz Ortega

 Graduating from grad school represents a lot of pride for myself and my family, as I am a first-generation student. Graduating represents the advancement of women in color in graduate school, and feels like an immense pride to reach this accomplishment for the Hispanic community.鈥

  惭叠础鈥24

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Yazmine Lynette Pati帽o

Yazmine Lynette Pati帽o

 Graduating from CU 麻豆影院 represents sacrifice, growth and possibilities for myself and my family. I鈥檓 the first in my family to receive a bachelor鈥檚 and now a master鈥檚 degree, both of which I could not have accomplished without the unwavering support of my family. Every educational milestone also represents educational possibilities for my younger siblings.鈥

  惭贰诲耻鈥24
  Outstanding Educational Foundations, Policy & Practice Master鈥檚 Graduate

Dana Ritterbusch

Dana Ritterbusch

 As a non-traditional student, I came to this campus with a passion for neuroscience and looking for a sense of purpose to match. Not only did I find myself among truly exceptional academic peers, I was warmly welcomed into an inclusive community of driven, compassionate, fearless young adults who have inspired me beyond measure. I leave sad to say goodbye but with complete certainty the world is in hands that are immensely capable, guided by clear minds and open hearts; and I am better for knowing and having been loved by them.鈥

  Neuro, Psych鈥24

Editor鈥檚 note: Quotes may include minimal edits for length and clarity. See a list of degree abbreviations.