This month, thousands of Highlanders will cross the stage at UC Riverside’s 72nd Commencement. While they will celebrate as one class, each arrived at this milestone through a distinct journey. Here, nine graduating seniors share stories that defined their UCR experience.
Standing atop the campus’s iconic stretch of lush green grass, with the Bell Tower as their backdrop, the students stood in front of a small crew: a producer, a videographer, and a photographer. The prompt? “Tell us about your accomplishments, obstacles, and core memories.” The best soundbites? The heartfelt advice they shared when they were shown childhood photos and asked to speak directly to their younger selves.
Check out the video and snippets from their interviews below.
Cordell Jones | B.A. | Education, Society, and Human Development & Sociology (minor) | School of Education
“As I prepare to graduate, I would tell my younger self to trust the process and not be discouraged by how unfamiliar or overwhelming everything feels at the start. I would remind myself that being a first-generation student means I won’t always have answers right away, but I will learn how to find them and figure things out step by step. I would also say that the long nights, the exhaustion, and the setbacks are not signs of failure, but part of building resilience and strength. Most importantly, I would tell myself to take pride in the journey, including starting in the LIFTED program at CRC [California Rehabilitation Center] and growing into spaces I once doubted I belonged in. Everything I experienced at UCR was preparing me for this moment, and I made it through stronger than I imagined.” – Jones
Faridah Adelotan | B.A. | Political Science/Law and Society | College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
“I would tell her that it is okay to make mistakes, and those mistakes do not define you, they shape who you are becoming. Every rejection you experience is a redirection toward something greater. Your path will look different from everyone else’s, and that is okay. When you feel knocked down, give yourself the grace to get back up and try again. And most importantly, you belong in every space you walk into, so never shrink yourself to fit into someone else’s expectations.” – Adelotan
Jessica Lowe | B.A. | Public Policy | School of Public Policy
“I would tell my younger self to keep pushing forward and trust that things will work out as long as you stay committed to your goals. There will be difficult moments, but don’t let yourself get stuck in a dark place. Keep searching for the light, even when it feels far away. Lean on the people around you and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Take advantage of every opportunity at UCR, because those experiences will shape who you become. Most importantly, believe in yourself and remember that growth often comes from the challenges you face.” – Lowe
Luis G. Diaz | B.A. | English & Political Science (minor) | College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
“Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. If there is anything at all out there that piques your interest, engage with it. People are not as intimidating as you think they are.” – Diaz
Shayla Michel | B.S. | Business Administration-Management | School of Business
“I would tell my younger self to never be afraid and to always strive for my dreams. I used to doubt myself and believe I wouldn’t be able to achieve the opportunities I have today, but I’ve learned that confidence in myself can take me further than I think. It’s okay to not have everything figured out, as long as you keep pushing forward. Trust yourself, take risks, and know that you are capable of more than you imagine.” – Michel
Sreenidhi Surineni | B.S. | Neuroscience | College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
“I would tell my younger self that depth matters more than breadth, and to resist the pressure to collect experiences rather than commit to them. The projects and relationships that ended up meaning the most were the ones I stayed with through the hard and unglamorous middle stages, not the ones I picked up because they looked good on paper. I would also say to spend less time trying to appear certain and more time sitting with questions, because in neuroscience and philosophy alike, the questions you can hold without rushing to answer are usually the most interesting ones. Finally, I would remind him that asking for help is not a sign of unpreparedness; it is how you learn what you actually do not know.” – Surineni
Vala Masjedizadeh | Ph.D. | Bioengineering | Bourns College of Engineering
“I would tell my younger self to trust himself. The path isn’t always linear and there is ups and downs throughout. Sometimes things feel uncertain and slower than you anticipate but know that growth will happen from these challenges that arise. I’d also tell myself to invest as much as possible into making genuine connections with people because it's the people that you meet that shape your support system and stay there for you even after.” – Masjedizadeh
Yazmin Ramirez | B.A. | Liberal Studies & Dance (minor) | College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
“It’s okay to be scared, and you’re meant to take up space. You are capable of a lot more than you think you are, and you are appreciated and loved in ways you never thought were possible. You are going to create your own memories – you don’t have to expect them to come.” – Ramirez
Zayan Musa | M.D. | Pediatrics | School of Medicine
“I would tell my younger self to say yes to every opportunity, everything will work out, and don't be afraid to fail.” – Musa
Everyone is invited to sign the Class of 2026 Yearbook.
