These undergraduate and graduate students share their advice, memories, gratitude, and encouragement for their fellow Gauchos. Read their words below — just make sure the tissues are in reach!
Ajani Jelani Washington
Communications Major, Applied Psychology Minor
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Mu Kappa Chapter President, Black Student Union Co-Retention Officer, UCSB Rugby
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
It's better to focus on building up yourself first before you begin to try to assist others holistically.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
I want to get into marketing and/or the creative arts space. My extracurriculars helped prepare me for this field while UCSB's Comm course load gave me the knowledge to navigate issues.
Leili Delorme
Sociology Major, Applied Psychology and French Minor
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
Panhellenic President, SEAL Intern, Vice Chancellor Student Cabinet, Title IX Undergraduate Representative, NUFP Fellow, Research Assistant, and Associated Student Committee on Committees
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
One of the most valuable lessons I learned at UCSB is that life isn’t linear which is a good thing. Embracing change has taught me to adopt a growth mindset, encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone, take risks, and view challenges as opportunities for development.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
After graduating from UCSB, I hope to work abroad and eventually pursue a master’s degree in international development. My time at UCSB has inspired me to push beyond my comfort zone. The different communities and opportunities I’ve engaged with on campus have not only changed my perspective, but also connected me with mentors and peers who have offered meaningful guidance as I shape my future goals.
Runze Li
Mathematics
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
Acts2Fellowship Santa Barbara, Math Club, UCSB AWM
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
Be open and get connected with my classmates, roommates, and professors.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
Become a mathematics researcher and explore the world. The rigorous and flexible curriculum at UCSB CCS Math enabled me to explore my interests while building a solid foundation in mathematics. It also provided me with several study abroad experiences, which greatly enriched my study life and helped me become an open-minded person.
Houda Fliga
Environmental Science
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
UCSB MSA
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
The biggest lesson I learned during my time at UCSB is to embrace who I am and not to be afraid to put myself out there. Coming to college, it's easy to feel like you have to change yourself to fit in or stay within your comfort zone, especially in such a vibrant community. But over time, I realized that the more I showed up as my authentic self, the more I found people who understood me and shared my values.Being here at UCSB taught me that being yourself is not only enough, but it's your greatest strength.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
I am going to American University in D.C. to pursue a masters in global environment policy. UCSB prepared me for this chapter by giving me opportunities to become a leader, speak up and step into spaces that I once felt unsure about. From organizing events and leading student initiatives to finding my voice in classrooms and campus discussions, I learned how to advocate not just for myself, but for others too. Most importantly, UCSB taught me how to show up, to take risks, to be visible and to trust my own self.
Donavan James Winston Walker
Music composition
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
Beach volleyball club, intramural sports
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
Trusting myself to be as big as I want to be.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
I am going to Indiana University for graduate school to get my masters in Music Scoring for Visual Media. I plan on becoming a film, TV, and video game composer alongside being a producer for singer/songwriters.
Yesenia Cazares
Political Science Major, Minor in Labor Studies
Clubs, sports and extracurriculars:
Sigma Alpha Zeta Sorority Inc. President
What's the biggest lesson you've learned during your time at UCSB?
The biggest lesson I have learned is that college is a time for learning, making mistakes, and figuring out where we want to go. It’s a place where we are meant to really flourish into the person we want to become after graduating. It's the place where you can meet peers and mentors that can be the support system you need to feel like UCSB is a home. Coming in as a first-generation latina from a low-income background, I felt the greatest pressure to only succeed because of the sacrifices my parents have made for me. While they have always been my main motivators and I strive to make them proud, I realized I can make mistakes, I can change my mind and still be successful.
What are your future endeavors, and how has UCSB prepared you for them?
I am looking forward to going into a career in student affairs, traveling across Europe, and eventually going to graduate school. I will be doing an internship at San Diego State University after graduation where I will be working with different campus departments to gain more experience. UCSB and the opportunities and jobs I have taken on here have led me to this.