Gelsi Tuz-Uxul said being a student at 糖心Vlog was at times challenging, discouraging, joyous, and ultimately transformative.
As a student speaker at WPU鈥檚 Spring 2024 commencement, Tuz-Uxul shared a glimpse of her experience 鈥渁s a proud Yucateca/Hispanic/Latin茅 first-generation graduate.鈥�
听鈥淭he road to graduation consisted of work, dedication, curiosity, and getting out of my comfort zone,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said. 鈥淎s a first-generation student, the path was uncharted, and the obstacles were daunting.鈥�
Tuz-Uxul said she got a sense of Warner鈥檚 supportive community when recruiter Meghan Varner attended her high school鈥檚 college fair.
鈥淪he was curious to know what I was passionate about, what motivated me, and how WPU could be my community,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said. 鈥淔rom personal stories to goals and aspirations, she saw me for me.鈥�
While Tuz-Uxul didn鈥檛 know it at the time, she would eventually veer off the path of WPU鈥檚 standard degree offerings and work with faculty to design a personalized interdisciplinary program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Community Engagement, with a minor in Digital Media.
She said Warner helped make college accessible, explaining the processes of enrollment, financial aid and registration.
鈥淭hrough her support, I felt confident about beginning my college journey,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said.
Still, she had some fear and uncertainty at the beginning of and throughout her college career.
鈥淥n top of being frightened and discouraged, being a Class of 2020 high school graduate, I often felt like things were out of reach for me, and doubt loomed large, threatening to derail my dreams or goals,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said. 鈥淏ut it was here, at Warner Pacific, that I discovered the tools to navigate these challenges and found the unwavering support of a community dedicated to my success.鈥�
The First Year Learning Community classes were crucial to her sense of belonging. There, she found encouragement from classmates and professors.
鈥淲hile waiting to join my virtual class, I asked myself if I could belong there,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said. 鈥淐ould I succeed in this unfamiliar environment? My doubts faded when I joined my FYLC Zoom call with Professor Jennifer Cameron. Her dedication to education and contagious laugh solidified my decision that WP was the community for me.鈥�
Whenever internal and external pressures and self-doubt threatened to derail her, the WPU community, her parents and family were there for her, she said.
鈥淲ith resilience fueled by the support of the WP community, I have discovered a strength within myself that I never knew existed 鈥� a strength born of adversity, nurtured by a genuine community, and tempered by the knowledge that I am part of something greater than myself,鈥� Tuz-Uxul said.
Tuz-Uxul received the Milo L. Chapman Award for Service in recognition of her achievements and community contributions, which include mentoring new students through their first year of college, volunteering at a recruitment event, and sharing her art on a banner for a special event.