GRADS RETAIN INSPIRATION, HOPE IN TURBULENT TIMES
Even in times of hardship, fires, pandemics and economic crises, many choose to take the leap and invest in their future.
Some, such as Chico State graduate Yureni Manzano, commit to painstaking work and long nights to make their dreams a reality.
Manzano made the decision to triple major in psychology, legal studies and political science. In the hours before the Chico State Commencement Ceremony, Manzano, the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation graduate, sat with her mother and father on campus, taking in the moment together.
“It’s difficult, you know?” Manzano said, citing the balance of family and school as the biggest challenge she faced. “I am the oldest and my family depends on me a lot. I am also the only one who speaks both languages in the household.”
While her five years working toward her three degrees saw many struggles to overcome, Manzano said she was eager to go on to the next chapter of her life. In this case, that means studying for the Law School Admission Test. She began her college career looking toward criminal justice as her major in hopes of becoming a police officer or detective but her aspirations grew as she looked at the flaws in the legal system and decided she wanted to make changes.
“That’s the reason why I wanted to go into political science and legal studies and then eventually go to law school and help in the juvenile justice system because I feel like overall, minorities are not represented as much but I feel like juveniles specifically are the ones that suffer the most in the system,” Manzano said.
Manzano hopes to study law at either UC Berkeley, UCLA or UC San Diego.
As the crowd of students donning their black and red caps and gowns began working their way to the Chico State University Field before the massive graduation stage, families smiled and pointed out their children, friends, cousins, mothers and fathers as they saw them walk to their the stadium seats.
Students in the colleges of engineering, computer science, construction management and agriculture were honored during the ceremony. The university’s College of Education and Communication graduated Thursday night; graduate students had a ceremony Wednesday.
Speakers and students alike spoke on the strangeness of the last few years and how much it affected their school lives.
“Students, your journey to degree over the past few years was unlike the experience of generations of students who have graduated before you,” said Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson during her speech to the
graduating class. “Specifically, you have had to navigate the effects of the global pandemic. For you, COVID-19 meant adjusting your expectations from inperson learning and in-person campus experiences to figuring out how to learn online or in that hybrid environment.”
Christian Jimenez, an active Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. When he transferred to Chico State, all of his courses were online. Despite that, Jimenez said he was still able to succeed in finding many positive
experiences.
“The first year it was all online because of COVID-19,” Jimenez said. “But in the year I was here in person, it was absolutely shocking. I didn’t expect to have a really great college experience overall because of the pandemic and restrictions, but I think Chico fulfilled that experience to the max.”
Agricultural education graduate Ryan Johnson stood in line before the ceremony next to his friend and peer agricultural business graduate Julio Vasquez reflecting on their college years.
“It’s been interesting transitioning back into inperson stuff,” Johnson said. “It’s been refreshing getting
away from the computer screen and everything else.”
With school and the pandemic fading into the past, students looked on toward their futures and the next step.
“All of us have a fear, whether it be heights, public speaking or snakes,” said graduating agriculture student Tyler Jenkins during his speech. “I mean, I’m an agriculture major with an irrational fear of earthworms. But in all seriousness, most of us are going to be afraid of what comes next. The uncertainty of our lives in the near future and the uncharted path soon to be defined. I encourage everyone to embrace the unknown sitting right before you and as RuPaul Charles always said, ‘this is the beginning of the rest of your life.’”
Agricultural education majors Charles Croman and Annalise Perez are both already in the process of setting their futures up with jobs as student teachers.
“He and I are going to be teachers,” Perez said. “We’re already doing our student teaching right now. We started in January and we’re finishing our degrees in December. I’m teaching down in Modesto.”
“I’m teaching in Anderson as a student-teacher, but I have an internship until I get my credential,” Croman
added.
Wearing his gown and a hard hat, Luke Barrientos, a construction management graduate, said he has a job lined up and is excited to start a career in his field.
“I actually have a job for a landscaping company as an estimator so I’m going
to be doing some work for them in San Francisco,” Barrientos said.
As for Manzano, she said she’s ready to take a quick breather before going straight to law school.
“I think anything is possible,” Manzano said. “I didn’t think I was going to
be graduating in five years with three majors and here I am, I did it.”
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences graduates today and the colleges of Humanities and Fine Arts and Natural Sciences have their commencement ceremonies Sunday.