Illustrations by Billy Babb
We polled a cross-section of our graduating students about their hopes and dreams, and even though the coronavirus pandemic has changed commencement plans, their futures look bright!
Hailey Bradley
B.S., Biomedical Sciences
Where are you from?
Claysburg, Pennsylvania
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
The President’s Leadership Program, consisting of three yearlong courses and a leadership studies minor. Through PLP,
I’ve grown into an authentic and passionate leader with a vision and purpose for life.
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
As a first-generation college student, I came to CSU with a very narrow perception of what it meant to obtain a degree and achieve success. Letting go of my highly regimented plans felt rather uncomfortable until I learned that it was OK to take a detour or acknowledge that what I wanted in life had changed.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
How to connect with others. I went from being the quietest person in the room to the president of three clubs, with a passion for engaging in meaningful discussions with anyone at any time.
Any advice for new students?
Don’t limit yourself to the career or life plans you made before college. Open your mind to new ideas and adventures.
Rhythm Dadhwal
B.S., Microbiology and Honors Scholar
Where are you from?
Punjab, India
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
Working as an undergraduate research assistant and learning assistant. I took part in scientific research and shared the knowledge that I have gained with others. It made me happy to another level!
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
Being away from my parents and adjusting to cultural differences. I didn’t see my family for two and half years, and I used to miss them every single day! I used to worry that people would not accept me, but wonderful people helped me find a sense of belonging.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
Never doubt yourself! The world has a lot to offer, but you need to be a self-starter.
How will you care for your world?
I intend to attend graduate school and perform microbiology research with the goal of advancing health care.
Any advice for new students?
Immerse yourself on campus and get involved. Don’t hesitate to take risks, try new things, and grab any opportunity you get! You never know what will lead you to your ultimate passion.
Joshua M. Hayes
Ph.D., Radiological Health Sciences
Where are you from?
I grew up a Navy brat, so I moved every few years as a kid. Home has always been where I hung my hat at the end of the day, which is now Vienna, Austria.
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
I would say it’s a tie between when I met my wife 13 days after I moved to Fort Collins, and when I married her, five years later.
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
When I started college, the only thing I knew as an adult was the Marine Corps. It was not an easy transition. I had to rewire my mind to ask questions and understand that there was more to life than receiving and repeating orders.
How will you care for your world?
I want to be heavily involved with public education initiatives for the nuclear sciences. The public misunderstands and fears this discipline. Public education programs can transform fear of radiation into a healthy respect, which will play a large role in the growing energy and climate crises.
Any advice for new students?
Be flexible. When you start college, you may feel pressure to have everything planned out, but if you have a rigid life schedule, you may let opportunities go by because they did not fit into your plan. Be flexible and take risks.
Aidan Lewis
B.S., Neuroscience
Where are you from?
Longmont, Colorado
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
A few months into college, I went on a retreat at CSU’s Mountain Campus. At night, we went down to a bridge that spans the river in the valley. There was no moon, so we lay on the bridge in total darkness, listening to the sound of the river and talking about life. And as I looked up at the most spectacular Milky Way I had ever seen, I smiled and thought to myself, ‘This is where I’m supposed to be.’
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
No one told me college was going to be so emotional! In all honesty, it was a real learning curve to start understanding myself and others as the emotional creatures that humans are.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
Life is to be enjoyed! Think about how beautiful it is that we are all so different. Think about how amazing it is that moment after moment, since the beginning of our lives, our stories have been written, and now they have come together right here! Think about how wonderful it is that we can experience so much and appreciate the vast wealth these experiences offer. And think about how perfect it is that all of this is a mystery.
Raegan Petch
B.S., Microbiology
Where are you from?
Elbert, Colorado
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
I had so many great experiences, but all of them revolved around the people I met through my major and campus organizations. I loved hiking Horsetooth Rock, spending time at the reservoir, and eating at great restaurants. Even some of the less fun things (such as studying organic chemistry in the library well past midnight) became enjoyable with the people I met at CSU.
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted my experience, but also inspired me to continue working hard and learning as much as I could about infectious diseases.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
Your education is what you make of it. I put myself outside of my comfort zone and tried new things. Also, people really do want to help you if you can ask for support and opportunities.
Any advice for new students?
Explore as many new things as possible at CSU. Get outside of your comfort zone and do something new. You might even find that that’s what you want to do for the rest of your career.
Tim Vernier
D.V.M.
Where are you from?
I was born in Tokyo, Japan, but moved to Phoenix, Arizona, at a young age, so I consider both places to be home.
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
I’ve really enjoyed working as a surgery technician at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Being able to participate in simple procedures or lifesaving surgeries on dogs, cats, snakes, birds, rabbits, monkeys, and lions has been such a fun and educational experience.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
Being a good doctor isn’t about knowing every single disease and treatment. The willingness to always continue learning, being kind and respectful to others, and being truly dedicated to helping your patients are just a few of the things that need to be practiced to be a good doctor.
How will you care for your world?
I’ll start a one-year internship at the University of Pennsylvania this summer. I’ve aspired to become a veterinarian for so many years, and next year I’ll finally be able to treat and care for animals that so many people consider to be a part of their family.
Any advice for new students?
Work hard, but don’t forget to have a little fun on the way.
Sherry WeMott
M.S., Environmental Health and Epidemiology
Where are you from?
Kansas City, Missouri
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
I’ve worked at CSU for 16 years, and I’ve had a lot of great experiences. One that stands out was participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in 2020. There was a strong feeling of hope and possibility, and it was the last large event I attended prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, so it holds a special place in my mind.
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
I had a 20-year gap between finishing my bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri and enrolling in the graduate program at CSU. In that time, I’ve said goodbye to both my parents, become a parent myself, and spent the last year balancing work, school, and the adventures of remote learning with a 12-year-old.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
The power of collaboration. I have seen so many innovative projects and solutions born of people freely sharing their ideas and working together.
Any advice for new students?
Don’t judge yourself or compare yourself to others. Be authentic, and don’t be afraid to tell your story.
Tingting Xia
D.V.M.
Where are you from?
Wuhu City, China
What was your favorite experience at CSU?
There are many wonderful experiences during vet school, such as passing a difficult exam, making a correct diagnosis, participating in a complicated surgery, and successful CPR on a dying patient, but my most favorite ones are building the patient-vet-client relationship.
What obstacles did you overcome to finish your education?
Language obstacles and time management as a parent-student. When I enrolled, my son was 2.5 years old. My husband could not move with us due to work in China. It’s hard to be a parent as well as a full-time student in a second language.
What is the most important thing you learned at CSU?
Don’t be afraid to jump in; you can do it. You can make a difference to the world.
How will you care for your world?
I have two homes in the world. One is in China; one is in the U.S. Probably, I will spend several years in the U.S. to continue my education as a small-animal veterinarian and surgeon. I also would like to share my knowledge with vets, technicians, and clients in China one day.
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