Senior Speaker: Political Science

A message from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Each year, our graduating students in every major select a student to speak on behalf of their area of study. Because we are a large college, the time allotted to our ceremony does not allow for each speaker to appear on stage. However, these speeches have been recorded for your viewing pleasure. 

At its core, our College supports open and free inquiry and debate about the most weighty and consequential subjects that face us all. Each student was given a minute to speak on whatever topic they think will be meaningful to their peers. Some of the contributions are lighthearted, others are serious, and some may inspire some people and conflict with the values and beliefs of others. But that is the nature of free inquiry and debate: it should challenge us and make us think. We are proud of every one of our graduates, whether or not we agree with the views they express here. 

Transcript: 

Good evening students, family, friends, and faculty, and thank you for joining us in this celebration of the class of 2025.

When people learn that I came to UMass from a small town in the deserts of New Mexico, I hear one of two things: “I love Breaking Bad!” or “How’d you end up here?” My answer to the second question has always been that I wanted to see trees – real trees, the kind that block the horizon, brustle in the wind, and change colors with the weather. And while that is true, I came to UMass in search of many other things – new experiences, an understanding of our world, a sense of self, and a true community of people who understood me. These desires for my college education may match your own, and I’m extremely fortunate to say that I’ve found all of these things and more by studying political science and being with my friends and peers here at UMass.

My small hometown in New Mexico was the true catalyst for my move to Amherst. Carlsbad sits on the border of Texas, secluded from the rest of the world through sprawls of desert and tumbleweeds. It’s an oilfield town, existing at an extremely unique intersection of race, class, and ideology – a majority Latino community with vast income inequality and deeply entrenched conservative ideology. Growing up around these varied experiences presented many questions about our world. At the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, I saw a side of my community that I had never seen before – one where people felt empowered to spread hate about others. From Black people to Jewish people, women to transgender folk, I listened as my peers revealed the depths of their attitudes. It was isolating and confusing, and I yearned to understand why my community turned towards these cycles of thought. Moving across the country to study Political Science at UMass was my way to answer these inquiries.