We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Zelda Stanfield

For most of my life, I didn’t realize that the very thing I used to set aside was actually my greatest gift. As a shy little girl, I often felt more comfortable writing on paper than I did in conversation. While others found their voices out loud, I found mine in quiet moments, writing stories that blended imagination with pieces of real life. Read More>>

Ewa Karweta

It was 2013 and it seemed like a whole chapter of my life has come to an end. My post undergrad plans were not working out, money was tight, I was stuck in a cycle of never-ending roommates, and I lost several people in my life in what seemed like a 4 year streak of tragic deaths. Read More>>

Veronica Carr

didn’t learn my most important lesson in a classroom. I learned it in the quiet, in-between moments—walking to my car after a long shift, sitting alone in a small apartment I could barely afford, and staring at assignments I had to finish after already giving everything I had that day. I had moved to San Diego for college, not knowing a single person. Read More>>

Radka Desenská

One of the most impactful lessons I learned during school came from my studies in social work, where I was in direct contact with people facing very different and often difficult life situations. I remember sitting with individuals whose stories completely shifted my perspective. In those moments, it stopped being about theory or textbooks – it became real. Read More>>

Keisha Montfleury

One of the most important lessons I learned is that you need to choose the people you allow in your life wisely! Unfortunately or fortunately ( depending on how you look at it), I did not have the proper discernment to make quality friendships, which ultimately lead to being in a toxic relationship when I got older. Read More>>