Published: Sept. 11, 2023

From the class of 2023

Read words of wisdom听from some of the many talented听and innovative students who graduated in May 2023, leaving听inspirational legacies鈥攚ith advice and reflection鈥攆or those who follow.听

What you鈥檒l carry forth

Erika Gossett

听I feel like a lot of musicians are really focused on the creative side of things, and pursuing a business minor and the Music Entrepreneurship Certificate听definitely helped me to think more entrepreneurially, find my footing and discover a new career path. The most valuable thing I learned is how to work with a team.鈥

听MediaSt, Mus鈥23

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Denis Muthike

听Being at CU was a truly fulfilling experience. I had been a professional for more than 10 years working at an international level, which would indicate I was way ahead of the pack in terms of experience, but nothing could be further from the truth! I learned many new valuable ways of thinking, innovativeness,听collaboration, negotiation听and communication. I will carry these new skills with me as a testament to CU鈥檚听excellence, no matter the stage of one's career.鈥

听笔丑顿贰苍惫厂迟鈥23

Bailey Ghashghai

听During my time at CU I have built more meaningful relationships and connections than I thought possible. I have built the best support system I could have ever imagined. I have learned so much from everyone around me and will take it all with me as I begin this next chapter of my life.鈥

听StratComm鈥23

Spencer Chuck

听Coming into the College of Engineering and Applied Science I was scared of failing and not being smart enough. However, the complete opposite happened. I found a degree that I fell in love with, which led me to a dream job, and I found success and fulfillment in the challenging coursework throughout my four years. What I will carry with me is summed up in the words of Henry Ford: 鈥榃hether you think you can or you think you cannot, you are right.鈥欌

听ArchEngr鈥23
听Architectural Engineering听Milo S. Ketchum Award鈥 winner

Vinitha Gadiraju

听I am continuously inspired by how graduate students at CU have advocated for student rights, created spaces for equity and inclusion, and made waves in their research fields. I hope to carry the passion and curiosity exemplified by my incredible peers and faculty to my future endeavors.鈥

听PhDCompSci鈥23
听National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow

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Erin Sandau

听Going into my next chapter, and the rest of my life, I will always remember that it's not where you go but how you get there that matters. Boulder has taught me how to enjoy the challenges in life and what it takes for me to overcome them. Those experiences have shaped me into a person who is comfortable in my own skin and into someone who is ready for any obstacle. I know now I am a person who can overcome anything, and that lesson will follow me forever.鈥

Ling, AsianSt鈥23

Wes Weber

听You walk out of Leeds feeling prepared for anything. My professors have given me the confidence and preparedness to help me feel I can do this.鈥

Mktg鈥22, MSBA鈥23
Ralphie Handler

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Marley Horn

I've had the most incredible experience听student-teaching in a bilingual first-grade classroom in Denver Public Schools. Every single one of my students has helped me to become not only a better teacher but a better person...The School of Education has helped me find my passion for working with emergent bilingual students, using听culturally sustaining pedagogies and always听striving to employ an antiracist, anti-bias approach听to teaching.鈥

听贰诲耻鈥23

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Zepeng Lei

听In summary, my time at 精品SM在线影片 has provided me with a strong foundation in research, collaboration, and resilience, as well as a deep commitment to sustainability. As I transition to the next chapter of my life, these lessons and experiences will remain with me, guiding my continued growth and success in both my professional and personal endeavors.鈥

听PhDChem鈥23

Desean Connors

听In my next chapter, I will carry with me the importance of voice, critical thinking听and challenging yourself. I learned it鈥檚 OK to step out of my comfort zone and test my limits in a way that is unique to me. Regardless of success or failure, there is a level of euphoria that comes from pushing myself forward and trying something new, difficult and engaging. I鈥檝e adopted this mindset at CU and hope it stays with me for my future pursuits.鈥

听Engl鈥23

Gabriela Galarraga

As I continue onward听to the next chapter, what I take with me is persistence, determination and, most importantly, the willingness to try.鈥嬧

听Phys鈥23

Sophie Friedman

听I have had听a great undergraduate and graduate school experience at 精品SM在线影片 and a fantastic听student-teaching placement at Century Middle School, which has provided me the opportunity to grow as a STEM teacher and learn what it means to be a teacher beyond the content.鈥

惭贰诲耻鈥23

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Jasmine Dinnell

What I will carry with me from my time at CU are the relationships developed between classmates and professors. People are rooting for you, and they want to see you succeed!鈥

听Class鈥23

Molly Hamm-Rodriguez

When I started the PhD program, I had a lot of questions about education, society and inequity. I鈥檓 leaving with even more questions, which I consider to be a good sign I鈥檓 in a better place than when I began. Graduating does not represent an end but rather a beginning, as learning and unlearning is a lifelong journey. I know I'm leaving with new ways of thinking and being that I will continue to use for social change.鈥

听PhD贰诲耻鈥23

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Bri Spitz

I feel a lot more confident after working at the library. This job helped me a lot interacting with people. I am now comfortable finding resources and helping others find resources.鈥

听EBio鈥23
听Student Assistant, Business Library Circulation
University Libraries Outstanding Graduating Senior

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Desi Beardmore

听I will cherish and continue to develop the community, family听and friends I have made during my time at CU.鈥

听PhDCivEngr鈥23
听Engineering GoldShirt Program Manager, BOLD Center

Anya Aidun

听The way I view leadership now is knowing yourself, showing up authentically and inspiring other people to do the same thing. At Leeds, I learned more about myself, which lets me show up in a more intentional way for other people.鈥

听InfoMgmt鈥23

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Yamelit Medina-Lopez

听I have learned that perseverance is about continuing to push听but also taking care of yourself, knowing not to burn yourself out so much. It's important to take a little break and take a deep breath. You're still human, not a robot, you know?鈥

IntDesEngr'23
听College of Engineering and Applied Science听Perseverance Award听winner

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Your best piece of advice

Maya Singh

My biggest piece of advice is to be open-minded to new things that come your way. Don't let fear dictate your decisions; you never know what doors could open if you say yes. Everything happens for a reason, and you just have to trust you will learn and grow from the situation.鈥

颁丑别尘叠颈辞贰苍驳谤鈥23
College of Engineering and Applied Science Academic Engagement Award winner

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Emily Nocito

Get involved in activities that aren't directly related to your research! I have met some of my best friends and made invaluable connections through volunteering and working at the college and university level.鈥

笔丑顿贰苍惫厂迟鈥23
听Vice President of Internal Affairs, GPSG;听Natural Sciences Liaison to the Graduate School; Graduate Instructor

Julia Foley

听Take the time to explore classes and subjects you are interested in, so that you can find the major that best fits you and the path you want to take during your time here at CU.鈥

听InfoSci鈥23
听Information Science Outstanding Senior

Thomas Smith

听Be curious, be gritty, and take small steps. You will inevitably traverse valleys and climb peaks as you tackle challenges throughout your academic career as well as life. Throughout the journey, be sure to hold fast to the goals and dreams that drive you forward but also remember that progress and growth take time. Many small steps will lead you to your destination.鈥

笔丑顿础别谤辞贰苍驳谤鈥23
NASA Space and Technology Research Fellow

Ava Spangler

听Take chances! I took a chance doing engineering and ended up loving it more than I could have imagined. I took chances joining groups I didn鈥檛 know if I would like and taking courses beyond the typical undergrad curriculum. Taking chances opened doors and changed the direction of my college career.鈥

听CivEngr鈥23
听Civil Engineering听Milo S. Ketchum Award winner

Nam Bui

听Collaboration is the efficacious route to approach the upcoming tide of advanced technologies. At 精品SM在线影片, I have elaborated essential skills necessary for conducting interdisciplinary research. Collaborating with colleagues of various academic backgrounds has prepared me for my future career and taught me the importance of teamwork, effective communication and the value of diverse perspectives.鈥

听PhDCompSci'23
听Outstanding Research Award winner
听Ralph J. Slutz Excellence Award winner

Areyana Proctor

听Don鈥檛 be scared of going to those club meetings, joining that organization, taking a chance, and meeting new people. Say yes to things. Not only will you make a lifetime of memories and friends, but these connections can also open very important and beneficial doors for you throughout life.鈥

听Jour鈥23

Sarah Fahmy

听I听encourage students to get involved on campus and in their community early, as you never know where your support networks may emerge. Also, remember to slow down and ask yourself what genuinely sparks joy in your heart, regarding your research and your teaching鈥攁s that is what will sustain and nourish you on the hard days.鈥

笔丑顿罢丑迟谤鈥23
听President,听Graduate and Professional Student Government; Theatre Lead, Center for Teaching and Learning

Samuel Kwon

Embrace your culture and background. Allow yourself to be different from others, and learn to enjoy yourself. You will face many difficulties and failures during your undergraduate education, but remember that growth occurs during these times.鈥

ChemBioEngr, ApMath鈥23
听Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Award winner

Rob Streeter

听Don't fear or be discouraged by failure. By definition, graduate work is trying to expand the knowledge of the human race. Turns out that's hard. Failure isn't a shortcoming听but rather just a nudge in a different direction that will lead you to your uniquely impactful work.鈥

听PhDElEngr鈥23

Meenakshi Manoj

听If you see an interesting opportunity, pursue it. Failure might happen, but it is an important and necessary part of the process. There might not be another point in your life where diverse opportunities are available, like when you are in college, so it's always worth trying.鈥嬧

IntlAf, Econ鈥23

Haydn Crouse

听Although teaching and working toward听a master鈥檚 can听feel overwhelming,听you are in the most incredible position. You are able to take the research practices you are learning in your courses and apply them directly to your instruction as an educator, experiencing听how these practices work听with immediate feedback and reflection and working through questions听using knowledgeable, kind, nonjudgmental professors and colleagues as a soundboard.鈥

听MEdu鈥23

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Lexi Deal

听Harness your curiosity. I have to assume that everyone entering graduate school is curious about something. Let that curiosity guide you, let it carry you when graduate school gets difficult, and let it take you to places you never thought you would go.鈥

听PhDChem鈥23
Three Minute Thesis second place winner

Amber Hall

Give yourself the grace and room to make mistakes. It鈥檚 better to take your time and figure out what you want in life than to burn out. And lastly, if things feel off, out of place听or not right, it鈥檚 OK to reevaluate your situation and make changes. It鈥檚 never too late.鈥

贰诲耻鈥23

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Kassidy Whittemore

听It is OK to lean on others and ask for help when you need it. Sometimes life gets stressful, and you may not know what to do or how to approach things鈥攖his is when you can look to the people who truly want to see you succeed鈥攆riends, classmates, professors鈥攆or help. I was always someone who tried to avoid asking for help or for guidance, but the听School of Education is a听community听that encourages getting support.鈥

听MEdu鈥23

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Arielle Lawton

Always remember the privilege of this education. Especially on the hard days, when you are tired and busy, try to remind yourself of the extraordinary opportunity this school presents for you to learn, grow and enjoy a wonderful future. Be grateful for the support of your professors, mentors and peers while proud of your own hard work and accomplishments.鈥

颁丑别尘叠颈辞贰苍驳谤鈥23

Carter Snelson

If there鈥檚 a goal that you have or something you want to complete that may seem incredibly challenging, don鈥檛 have any doubt that you can accomplish it.鈥

Fin, RealEst鈥23

Graham Buhse

听Make as many connections with your fellow students and instructors as you can, as those relationships will help you long past your time as a student.鈥

惭贰诲耻鈥23

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What graduation means to you

Izzy Fincher

听As a Japanese American woman, I am very grateful for the privilege of having a college degree. Graduating from college represents empowerment and self-determination through hard work, especially for women from diverse backgrounds.鈥

听Jour, Mus鈥23
CMCI Outstanding Grad

College of Music听Outstanding Grad

Nathan Danigelis

Graduating from CU represents a goal of mine that I'd had for something like 10 years! It's never too late to continue your education听or to make a career transition鈥

听MElCompEngr鈥23

Lydia Darlington

听I am very proud of my time at 精品SM在线影片! To me, graduating from the Master鈥檚 in Higher Education program represents my lasting commitment to the mission of higher education and the full scope of human discovery and development.鈥

听惭贰诲耻鈥23
听Senior Executive Aide to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

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Kelsie Kerr

I am a first-generation student, so graduating college is such a significant achievement for me. Graduating really represents the culmination of the work and dedication I've put toward a goal that once seemed out of reach.鈥

听MediaSt鈥23
听Media Studies Outstanding Senior

Alina Lopo

听Graduating from college as a first-generation student has opened not only more doors of opportunity for me but for my family as well. This accomplishment resembles my resilience and dedication to bettering myself for them. This also means a new beginning, and I am excited to see what my future has in store.鈥

听PolSci鈥23

Shay Adamo

听I come from family full of educators, and graduating from 精品SM在线影片 means I can do what my grandma, aunts and uncles did before me. I feel so proud to be able to make a positive impact on the future generations of this world, just as they did.鈥

听贰诲耻鈥23

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Emmett Raymond

听To graduate from CU with distinction, having given this program everything I have, is proof to myself I can pull off massive undertakings and reorient my life when it鈥檚 needed. It鈥檚 also the culmination of a lot of support from my family and friends, so for me,听graduating听celebrates that too!鈥

听Comm鈥23
Communication Outstanding Senior

Sarah Leonhart

听Graduating from 精品SM在线影片 is a testament to the support of my family. As cliche as it sounds, I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. They have provided me with a solid foundation to build upon, and I cannot thank them enough. I want to give a special shoutout to my grandparents鈥攖heir unwavering support has been incredible. Y鈥檃ll, look at the heights we've reached!鈥

听惭贰诲耻鈥23

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Maymuna Mohamed Jeylani

My decision to attend 精品SM在线影片 was foreshadowed by high anxiety and the stress of leaving my lived reality of Blackness and Somali culture to drop into the less diverse,听more affluent community of Boulder. At CU, I have experienced micro and macro aggressions, tokenism, inappropriate assignments and astounding white privilege. CU is not home or a place of refuge. Graduating represents the way I stayed alive at CU by taking coursework and being in a community that represents myself and my lived experiences. My goal was to survive but instead I thrived. I received the college education my refugee parents, who fled war-torn Somali, pushed for. My being at CU was an act of resistance. I hope my experiences and presence made room for the next students who look like me.鈥

听Edu, EthnSt鈥23

Skylar Hanson

听During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to explore my passion for health care and develop essential problem-solving skills that empowered me to make a positive impact on my community. 精品SM在线影片 provided me with the resources, perspective and support to understand the bigger picture of medicine and prepared me for my next steps in creating meaningful change.鈥

听IntPhys鈥23

More graduate reflections

Holly Henderson

On the etrepreneurial spirit of the Leeds School of Business:

听Especially coming from a startup, I鈥檓 not really big into the corporate world. A lot of business schools try to push you in that direction, but Leeds encouraged exploration.鈥

惭叠础鈥23

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Brian Tan

On graduating at age 17:

听Going to college early is definitely going to give you a hard time. You have to endure knowledge that is far beyond what you are supposed to learn now. It is going to be hard, but it will be worth every ounce of hard work you put into it. I would definitely recommend anyone to give it a shot.鈥

听CompSci, Math'23

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Rita Garson

On graduating five decades after starting college:

听I鈥檓 proud of myself鈥攖hat I finished and that I stuck to it. It鈥檚 a feeling of accomplishment. And I really feel that it has broadened me and encouraged my sense of curiosity.鈥

听DistSt鈥23

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Cecily Coors

On stepping into her career:

听I see business as a way to do interesting things that create an impact on people鈥檚 lives. I鈥檓 not sure where my education will take me, but I鈥檓 looking forward to that next step.鈥

听Fin鈥23

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