Houstonian 2024

HOUSTONIAN A MAGAZINE FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter From The Editor

Page 3

Year in Review

Page 5

Sports in Review

Page 8

Construction Preview

Page 11

QUIZ: What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Page 16

Ways To Take Nontraditional Paths After Grad

Page 20

Goodbye, UH: A Letter

Page 25

Ways To Stay in Touch With UH

Page 28

Senior Quotes

Page 30

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sydney Rose Chief Photographer and Cover Designer Anh Le

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Staff Writers Starns Leland Cindy Rivas Alfaro Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Jamie Thornton Zahra Gokal

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello everyone!

it this far.

For those who do not know, my name is Sydney Rose and I am the current Executive Editor of Cooglife Magazine here at UH as well as the Editor In Chief for Houstonian!

And, I’m proud of you for making it this far into the letter. It means a lot, but you can be honest, you’re just skimming over this as you wait for your name to be called at the ceremony.

No worries, I get it.

First off, I want to say a huge congratulations to all of the graduates walking this Spring, and another shoutout to those who are metaphorically crossing the stage in Summer and Fall. I’m sure for everyone it has been a long time coming and you are glad to finally be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

With graduation comes the rush of all kinds of emotions. Whether they be excietment or fear or a healthy mix of both, let me just be the one to say I am proud of you all for making

While you’re here, I just want to say you have some exciting content to uncover within the pages of this issue. For Houstonian 2024, we wanted to let you have the feel of a yearbook almost. Something to tie your last semester off with a bow.

alumni. Throughout these pages, be sure to admire all of the lovely photographs, graphics and well-written stories by our staff. They worked hard and I cannot thank them enough for their contributions.

Anyways, enough yapping from me. Enjoy your graduation!

Thanks for reading, Sydney Rose Editor In Chief

Not only do we have stories recapping some of the year’s highlights, but we have some stories from fellow seniors, memories being recounted and things to look forward to once you become a produ Cougar HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024

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August 2023 Story by: Sydney Rose

Year in Review: Highlights From the UH 23-24 School Year 4

Through the highs and the lows of a year, the University of Houston had an eventful two semesters from 2023 to 2024. As we say goodbye to the Spring graduating class of 2024, let’s recap some of the important events from this past year.

Fresh out of the summer and starting a new semester, UH had many changes to account for that went into effect statewide and nationally. One of the largest changes to hit the diverse campus was the response to Senate Bill 17, preventing Universities in Texas from holding diversity, equity and inclusion practices on campus.

The impacts of the

Photo by: Logan Linder

legislation had many beloved resource centers at the University getting renamed, students protesting to not be deprived of these resources and many programs being defunded.

This all led to the formation of the Center for Student Advocacy and Community.

This was set to bridge the gap after losing the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at the end of August.

September 2023 Uproar happened when students were waiting in long lines to hop on a shuttle from the main campus to UH Sugar Land.

After plenty of back and forth with the efficiency of the shuttle, who was allowed to use it and how schedules worked, the University announced it would start to require permits for the previously free form of transportation.

UH climbed national rankings when U.S. News and World Report Rankings reported the University as No. 70. This was quite a

leap from the 91st spot just the year before.

October 2023

Photo by: Oscar Herrera

Activism became abundant around the University as the events happening in Gaza started gaining more attention. Organizations such as the University of Houston’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine urged UH to divest and boycott as part of their campaign.

The Board of Regents voted to renovate the Moody Towers Dining Commons building to create a new dining hall, set to be under construction by 2025.

November 2023

A little later in the semester than most years, UH hosted the annual Homecoming festivities with Sean Kingston headlining the concert. New Homecoming royalty was elected in journalism senior Auyana Aird as queen and sports administration senior Austin Craig as king.

Another feat of one of the most awarded programs at UH, the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship was named a No. 1 program for the fifth year in a row. In Athletics news, the football team hired a new coach, Willie Fritz.

To finish off the semester with local politics, a new Houston mayor was elected with John Whitmore beating out Sheila Jackson Lee.

January 2024 Hopping into the spring semester, the first day started out with class cancellations due to freezing weather. With the new semester came new changes to a lot of projects happening around campus as construction got delayed,

Photo by: Anh Le

renovations to buildings such as the Recreation and Wellness Center and some buildings like Cougar Village II were flooded.

February 2024 When the Student Fees Advisory Committee recommended the Board of Regents redirect funds originally going to Athletics to be distributed to funding student organizations, President Renu Khator made a bold statement in rejecting the proposal.

As this was the first time in 16 years this happened, an appeal was made by SFAC and students protested.

More protests appeared as the University installed a controversial structure HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024

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as the latest art piece on campus, leading some students to rise in upset.

March 2024 The annual Student Government Association election commenced with the 61st administration headed by new presidentelect Diego Arriaga and new vice president-elect Austin Craig. They are set to enter office on April 1.

In observation of Ramadan, the University’s Muslim Student Association, along with Islamic Relief USA and the A.D. Bruce Religion Center set up a Ramadan Tent to serve students during the celebration.

After a long year, we just want to say a congrats to our Spring graduates walking in May and thank you for such a wonderful year!

In general news, a TikTok ban was in the air as a possibility to spread nationwide if the company did not divest from the parent company.

Photo by: Oscar Herrera

Photo by: Robert De La Garza

HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024

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Sports Year in Review: Highlights From UH Cougars

Story by: Starns Leland July 1, 2023: Houston officially joins the Big 12 Conference The University of Houston finally became a power conference school in the summer of 2023, fulfilling a dream that was 27 years in the making.

In 1996, the storied Southwest Conference, which housed the likes of UH, Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M, fell apart. In its wake, UH was kept from joining the newly-formed Big 12 which included members from the Big 8 Conference and four SWC schools, leaving Houston on the outside.

October 2023: The Month of Firsts

While most fall sports began their conference schedules midway through September, it took a while for UH to get things going in its new surroundings. Between football, women’s soccer and volleyball, Houston began the Big 12 era a combined 0-8 in September.

UH spent the next 25 years attempting But the dam broke on the first day to find its way back into a big-time of October when the Cougar soccer athletics conference, spending time team defeated West Virginia 2-1 in the smaller Conference USA and to mark Houston’s first-ever Big 12 American Athletic Conference. The victory. school’s attempts to join the prestigious Power-5 fraternity had been Less than a week later, No. 21 UH unsuccessful until a bout of conference volleyball tallied its first conference reshuffling gave UH an opening into win in a dominant sweep over, the Big 12. once again, West Virginia. Later in the month, the Cougars led by star Houston accepted the conference’s players Kate Georgiades and Kenna invitation in September of 2021 and Sauer welcomed the No. 7 Texas officially joined the conference two Longhorns in a massive ranked years later.

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showdown in the Fertitta Center on October 14. The match drew a crowd of 7,054 fans, blowing the previous UH attendance record for a women’s sporting event out of the water. Despite falling in a close four-set loss, it was a groundbreaking moment for a program that would eventually make its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Six days after volleyball’s win over WVU, Houston football, despite an otherwise disappointing first season in the conference, unforgettably knocked off the Mountaineers yet again in a 41-39 finish that was capped off by a miraculous Hail Mary touchdown pass from UH quarterback Donovan Smith to receiver Stephon Johnson to steal the team’s first Big 12 win.

December 3, 2023: Willie Fritz hired as UH football coach After an underwhelming 4-8 year with the Cougars, head football coach Dana Holgorsen was fired shortly after the season’s end on November 26. Holgorsen, who coached UH for five years with a 31-28 overall record, was replaced

by Tulane head coach Willie Fritz.

Fritz entered UH with a proven track record as a program builder fresh off back-to-back 11-plus win seasons with the Green Wave including a conference title in 2022 and found plenty of success as head coach in the junior college, Division II, Division I-AA and Group of 5 levels.

Beginning next season, Fritz will look to get UH football on the track in the Big 12.

Photo by: Anh Le

January 6, 2024: UH men’s basketball begins Big 12 schedule

Perhaps the most anticipated part of the Cougars’ first year in its new conference was how its powerhouse men’s basketball team would fare in arguably the toughest conference in the nation.

Part of that answer came when the No. 3-ranked Cougars, holding an undefeated 13-0 record in nonconference play, blew out the West Virginia Mountaineers 89-55 in their Big 12 debut

In front of a rowdy and packed Fertitta Center crowd, Houston’s defense held WVU to just 32% shooting from the field while star guards L.J. Cryer and Jamal Shead led the UH offense with 20 points and 11 assists respectively.

Continued on next page

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March 8, 2024: Houston announces Big 12 arrival on the diamond

Unlike the slow start in the fall, UH’s first forays into the Big 12 for its winter and spring sports proved much more successful.

Within hours of each other, both the Houston baseball and softball teams would begin their conference schedules with massive wins.

The Cougar baseball team held off Baylor in a 4-3 to win the first game in an eventual series sweep over the Bears to earn its first Big 12 wins. Meanwhile, UH softball used an explosive eight-run fourth inning for its first conference win and highest-ranked win in program history.

March 9, 2024: The Cougars clinch the Big 12 Regular Season Championship Though the win over West Virginia was an impressive opening statement to rest the Big 12, few could’ve foreseen what the Cougars would do for the following two months of conference play.

After suffering its first two losses of the season in consecutive road losses to TCU and Iowa State by a combined five points, Houston rattled off 14 wins in its final 15 regular season games, shooting up the Big 12 standings and beating eight NCAA Tournament teams in the process.

Jamal Shead emerged as one the best players in the country leading the Cougars’ nation-best

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defense while making clutch play after clutch play during the team’s numerous close road wins, including a buzzer-beater to sink head coach Kelvin Sampson’s former team in Oklahoma on the road. Shead would eventually go on to win the Big 12 Player of the Year and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year awards and was a unanimous pick for First-Team AllAmerica honors.

Even as injuries began to pile up, Shead, Sampson and company capped their historic regular season with a Big 12 title-clinching 7646 blowout over No. 14 Kansas at home on March 9. A record 7,933 fans in Fertitta Center helped send

off seniors such as Shead while UH avenged one of its three regularseason losses en route to cutting down the nets.

The Cougars would go on to earn a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament and make the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive season. However, a devastating injury to Shead would prove too much to overcome for an already banged-up UH team, and Houston fell 54-51 to Duke.

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CONGRATS COOGS! Stay up to date with Student Life on campus, you’re always welcomed back!

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Stay Connected Stay connected with what’s happening on campus and in your new city by following The Cougar on social media & our newsletter!

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@TheDailyCougar

@TheDailyCougar

The Cougar Newsletter

With UH at the cusp of

entering its centennial era, the University has been striving to make the campus more enjoyable for students with its new additions.

From the new Retail Auxiliaries & Dining Center and the highly anticipated Centennial Project, here are a few buildings and projects in construction that students should look out for.

Centennial Project In preparation to celebrate 100 years of UH, the University will build a plaza in the center of campus and overhaul University Drive into a welcoming, pedestrian-friendly entrance.

The project will include numerous seating options, several shade trees and

The Future of UH: Construction Progress Across Campus Story by: Cindy Rivas Alfaro

other beautification efforts to amplify the aesthetics of Cougar pride.

President and Chancellor Renu Khator spearheaded this project to further UH’s goal of entering the top 50 public universities list in the U.S. The project is set to be completed at the end of 2026, just in time for UH’s centennial anniversary.

Retail Auxiliaries & Dining Center

Known as the RAD Center, this new dining hall partially opened this semester with The Nook and the Market available to students. The RAD Center will provide new food options like The Burger Joint, The Taco Stand, Paper Lantern and Absurd Bird in Fall 2024 and a new spot for students to hang out or study.

The new dining hall replaced the Student Center Satellite building which was officially closed in 2019.

Several students were nostalgic about its closing while others missed the Taco Bell that it housed inside.

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Regardless, the new RAD Center will provide a change of atmosphere for students on the north side of campus and closer dining options.

Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center A new Football Operations Center is set to open in 2025.

This facility will serve students, athletes, fans and coaches and provide several amenities like hydrotherapy spaces and 30,000 square

feet dedicated to premium seating for fans.

The $130 million dollar project aims to provide a better experience for student athletes and set the stage for UH’s acceptance into the Big 12.

Rec Center After facing facility issues, the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center has undergone a three-phase floor replacement to provide a better workout experience for students.

Alongside the floor replacements, the University has replaced the Smoothie King inside

Photo by: Anh Le

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the Rec Center with Shake Smart, a smoothie shop with bowls, sandwiches, oatmeals and coffee.

The new smoothie joint provides a more intensive look at the nutritional values of all of its products and allows students to make healthier choices without the hassle of looking up the protein, carbs or sugar count.

Cougar Grounds In 2022, Cougar Grounds opened up its new location alongside the renovated Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership.

The Coog Choose 2021 Best Coffee Shop winner has been a campus favorite since it opened its doors in 2008.

From drinks to teas and delicious sandwiches, Cougar Grounds’ customers only continue to grow after the renovations.

the drive to change things for the better.

With these new additions and ongoing projects, the University will only continue to grow and catch the nation by surprise when it climbs the ranks to become one of the top 50 public universities in the U.S.

All in all, UH is known for taking initiative and having

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When we’re younger, we tend to wonder what we’ll be when we grow up.

Yet, as the time comes when we actually have to choose, we might not have the answer.

Hopefully, this quiz can help you know what you should be when you grow up even though we already are grown ups!

1. What’s your favorite subject?

A. History B. Science C. English D. Math

2. What kind of kid were you in school?

A. Always raising their hand B. No time for partying, always studying C. Teacher’s pet D. Never shows up to class

3. How were your grades like?

A. A’s and B’s B. Straight A’s C. Only B’s D. Barely Passing

4. What student organizations were you a part of?

A. Debate club B. Volunteering C. Student newspaper D. None/Other

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CONGRATS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024!

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES!

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Answers: Mostly A’s: Lawyer You aim to dream big (and go through a few more years of school) if it means leaving an impact on the world and getting as much work done as possible.

Mostly B’s: Doctor

5. What would your teachers say about you?

6. What is your ultimate dream in life?

A. Be the best of the A. The #1 participator best B. Always ready and B. Change the world prepared C. Help others in C. Caring and helpful whatever way you can to other student D. Just live a happy life D. A pleasure to have in class, does not speak much

You take a task and stick to it no matter what, always having the best intentions. You want to help the world and you won’t stop until you get there.

Mostly C’s: Teacher You want to shape the world and other people, having an influence in any way you can.

Mostly D’s: Accountant You view things through a very specific lens that gives you a clear course through life.

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Ways To Take The Nontraditional Path After College Story by: Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Graphic by: Maya Palavali

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At some point in our lives, we’ve all been asked, “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?” The answer we most often hear is graduating college and then getting a sufficient job.

But is that the only answer there is? Most certainly not!

Believe it or not, there are many nontraditional paths that an individual can choose to take after they graduate college. It’s possible that the typical path to the workforce is not for everyone. And that is absolutely okay!

Whether you graduate college this year or not, let’s explore and take a look at the many possible paths you can walk after you have completed college and attained your degree.

Taking Time To Travel

For a lot of people, traveling is a liberating experience with the potential for an individual to learn so much about the world and about themselves.

A lot of people choose to do this after graduating high school but by the time a person graduates college, they’re much older and feel that they are finally ready and capable enough to travel around the world.

While college may be a rewarding experience, it can also be very exhausting and emotionally draining.

Taking some time off and traveling the world can therefore be an ideal way to rejuvenate and relax before a person feels mentally prepared to start a full-time job or whatever else it may be that they choose to do.

a person to use all their knowledge and start their own business.

Today’s generation is more ready to take risks and may view starting their own business as a challenge they want to overcome.

Whether it be launching a tech startup, opening a cozy cafe or developing a useful product, the sky’s the limit when it comes to being your own boss and the captain of your own ship.

Getting Another Degree

Starting Your Own Business

Who says that you need to study entrepreneurship to become an entrepreneur?

Another nontraditional path that people may choose to take after graduating college is to start their own business.

By the time a person is out of university, they have vast knowledge and expertise about their field which is also accompanied by a lot of other creative ideas and pursuits. This may propel

A lot of people may choose to go to college… even if they have recently just graduated from college.

This may be because someone wants to pursue a post-bachelor degree.

When people are passionate about what they’re studying, they may be eager to learn more about it.

And so, they may choose to continue their education and add another feather to their cap by acquiring a higher level of education.

It could be for various reasons, probably because HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024 21

of one’s passion for their is becoming a very popular subject, or the belief that alternative nowadays. the more educated a person is, the better job prospects they would have in the future.

Volunteering At A For whatever reason it may be, going back to college after coming out of college may be a path people may choose for themselves.

Freelancing

For many people, the traditional nine-to-five job may seem daunting! Not everyone feels prepared to do so after being a fresh graduate. An alternative path for such people can be freelancing and being part of the “gig” economy.

Freelancing is a much more flexible way for people to get a job at their own convenience while having the liberty to gain experience in many different industries and build a diverse portfolio.

Freelancing may also help individuals gain more confidence in their abilities before they commit to a full-time job, which is why it 22 HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024

to equitable education or certain health issues, there are many causes that people may choose to volunteer for.

Non-profit

Joining The Military To add to the list of nontraditional paths, volunteering at a non-profit organization can always be up for consideration.

Many times, people end up being engrossed with their college degree which leaves them with considerably less time to dedicate to other domains such as volunteering.

A lot of people also support certain causes that are close to their hearts and wish to be the person who can make a difference, no matter how small.

This can cause people to volunteer at a non-profit that supports their cause before they decide what’s next for them in life.

Whether it be to support animal rescue, environmental causes, hunger and poverty, access

For some people, joining the military may be a path to pursue after graduating college. By the time one graduates from college, they also meet the age requirements to join the military which is typically between 17-35.

Joining the military can be an opportunity for someone to grow both personally or professionally, become more disciplined and feel a sense of duty by serving their nation.

Being a part of the military may also open up more job opportunities for people later on in life which is why it may be a path someone chooses for themselves after graduating college.

No matter which path it is you take, traditional or

nontraditional, the most important thing to consider is what makes you happy.

It is your life after all and who would know what’s good for you if not your own self?

Though making a choice as substantial as what to do after college can be a bit scary, the good thing is that there are so many routes you can choose to take.

Having a wide array of options is always helpful

and with the right people by your side, making tough decisions becomes a little easier.

No matter what it is that you do, do it with a smile on your face and hope in your heart.

Happy exploring!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024, we can’t wait to see our Coogs doing big and amazing things in the future!

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Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2024!

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“Goodbye, UH”: A Letter By: Zahra Gokal

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My mother has been telling me to redo my room... She voices my thoughts: I should declutter and paint my walls neutral. And she’s right: it’s too overwhelming.

I decay within the solid colors of my room, the newspaper clippings on the walls, the protest posters tucked away and the mass of stuffed animals thrown off my bed. There’s too much I refuse to let go of; too much I’m afraid to forget.

I like to call myself a memory hoarder. Since the COVID pandemic, I’ve held on to whatever I could grasp. At the time, it was the remnants of 12th grade. The Class of 2020 got our senior sunrise but never our senior sunset.

Like many, I ended high school staring at a screen and graduated six feet apart from everyone else.

It was almost comedic to believe my 18 years of living led to this point. I received my diploma in the mail, and that’s… it.

I passed my driving test. I binged Attack on Titan and learned about a criminal tiger keeper.

The world descended into chaos, rethinking social justice and dividing itself further.

There’s not much to say about my freshman year of university.

Why was everything red? Isn’t a Cougar a creepy lady? The campus seemed giant and empty and very, very lonely. I was probably the only person on Earth doing homework in the M. D. Anderson Library. I learned to enjoy my own company and face my thoughts head-on (screw you, derealization).

I came to campus more often 26 HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024

in my sophomore year. My semester began with the Glow Party: my friends and I lasted only a few minutes in the stuffy crowd before we had our fill.

Even though we left early, it felt like university had officially started.

introverted person; campaigning in the middle of Butler Plaza in the heat was not for me. Putting myself out there to be scrutinized terrified me to the core. I didn’t want to shoulder being a voice for the students when I’ve never done anything of the sort before.

I had in-person classes, though connecting with others behind a mask was tough. I mastered smiling using eye squints instead of my lips, but I couldn’t seem to speak properly. My social anxiety rose and I could never find the right words to say. I was back in the shell I broke out of in 12th grade. If high school Zahra witnessed me then, she would have been disappointed I reverted to my old, socially awkward self.

That’s why I stayed. I recognized a hole in myself: a fear I needed to overcome. I forced myself to approach others (yes, I became the annoying person who puts pamphlets in your face).

Since I couldn’t connect in person, I made friends through GroupMe, a social app with more problems than the West’s reaction to Squid Game. I joined classroom and club groups which branched into smaller social groups. I met more people than I ever imagined.

Three major switches later, my junior year started. I moved on campus and suddenly, my life revolved around the University of Houston. Red became my color. My thumb gravitated toward my ring finger. School spirit enveloped me and I got involved in more things than I ever would have during grade school. I stayed on campus late, as free as I imagined I’d be. I took interesting courses, made many friends and got involved in Student Government.

I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but joining SGA became the best decision I have ever made. I am a shy,

After weeks of this, we won the election. Twice.

Cage Rage in my final year felt like the senior sunset we never had. My high school friends and I sat in the middle of the stadium on a clear summer evening, surrounded by students in red with stories of their own. Each firework explosion reverberated in my heart.

Boom. I’m graduating soon.

Boom. I need to get my act together.

Boom. Time is running out.

I made a list of things to do before graduation: I should take advantage of Houston’s college discounts. I need to raise my GPA. I must jump in the Cullen Fountain at least once.

The semester began with dramatic SGA meetings running until nearly midnight. Alongside the meetings, I became a new version of myself. I connected with the University on a deeper level: advocating for students as a senator, networking in large amounts and learning about policy. I learned how important being proactive is in

accomplishing tasks requiring multiple parties. It was time to depend on myself instead of others. One thing I regret is learning these too late. By the time I got the hang of it, it was time to leave office.

I did interfaith work. I roadtripped with my friends. I worked on initiatives I knew I wouldn’t finish this year. I attended the Ramadan tent with a bittersweet sense of “I love my community here. I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.”

The feelings hit like a truck once I ordered my cap and gown.

The future was still unknown — what would I do with myself once I’m done? I’m never going to see some people again. Dark thoughts swirled around my mind, scaring me as they did in the pandemic.

My senior year went suspiciously faster than all the others.

Didn’t high school end just a few months ago? I’m back to square one: at the top of the game, completing a four-yearlong escape room only to enter a longer, tougher one with no visible end.

Over the years, I grew to love this campus I call home. I loved individuals like my life depended on it. I kept friends close enough that our roots would still be tangled if we separated.

How do I say goodbye to a life I’ve known for so long? How does the dean expect me to take my diploma, give a wave and step down the other side of the stage like it’s nothing?

I complain about choosing between my best friend’s graduation party and the

banquet for an org that feels like family. Explaining this dilemma to people is easier than giving them a Spotify playlist and an essay about childhood ending. Somehow, they claim to understand. Somehow, I don’t think they do.

I wish I opened up earlier. I wish I weren’t so afraid. I wish I had stayed longer in moments I crave so deeply to revisit.

To quote Morgan Matson from “Second Chance Summer,” there are “A thousand moments that I had taken for granted — mostly because I had assumed there would be a thousand more.”

It is a given that time is our enemy, but we fail to realize it’s also our friend. The passage of time is what gives value to everything.

Like the monkey trapped by his desires, his clenched fist too big to pull out of the hole, I, too, need to let go of the past to move on. This does not mean I need to forget; rather, to quote a famously controversial figure (Dr. Seuss), I smile because it happened. The past lives in me.

I’ve already begun compiling a scrapbook for my bookshelf.

era of Me. I will let myself grieve as I need to and when I’m done, the dawn awaits.

The University of Houston will always be considered home even though breathing costs money and there’s constant construction.

I’ll return when The RAD opens more restaurants and the Centennial project finishes. I’ll return to watch my younger brother cross that stage and experience strange emotions when he flips the tassel on his hat.

Maybe when I’m up there, I’ll imagine my younger self handing me my diploma with a sly grin.

She’ll wear fairy wings and a Dora haircut and look up at me with huge boba eyes. She has much to go through and I have much to do, but we get through it together. But first, I have assignments to finish and a room to clean.

I find it silly how I believe everything is coming to an end. I can always revisit. I have my friends’ socials to check up on them. I can meet people dear to me. There’s much to look forward to.

The world isn’t ending yet.

It’s almost symbolic that my graduation will be in the morning. This won’t be a sunset; it’s not the end. It’s the beginning of a new day, a new HOUSTONIAN // MAY 2024 27

How To Stay Connected To UH As Alumni Story by: Jamie Thornton Photo by: Anh Le College is an incredible learning experience, both in and out of the classroom. Students should stay connected with UH however they can after graduation whether through alumni networks or simply going to sports games.

Utilizing alumni networks and other resources can also be incredibly useful in job searching and generally staying connected to the community. There are many different networks available Regional Alumni Networks and a variety of committees to stay involved with.

Young Alumni Network The easiest alumni network to get involved with as a recent grad is UH’s Young Alumni Network. Created specifically for recent and younger graduates, the Young Alumni Network offers connections to other recent graduates and opportunities to engage with other alumni groups. These alumni are all pretty much on the same level professionally so it’s a great resource to gain career advice from others.

Not everyone at UH is from Houston, and not everyone will stay in Houston, so there are quite a few alumni networks in other Texas cities like Dallas and Austin as well as New York City and Washington D.C. Wherever Coogs may end up after graduation, there is always a way to connect with other alumni and stay involved with the University. Connecting and reminiscing about the “good ol days” with other Coogs that have similar experiences will be a valuable experience later on down the road.

Virtual Book Club College-based Networks Joining a college-based alumni network is an incredible resource for networking and growing professionally. As all of the alumni in this network graduated from the same college, they are very likely to be working in similar fields and can foster connections that lead to career growth and new job opportunities.

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The University of Houston Alumni Book Club is a fun way to stay involved with fellow Coogs.

The book club is a free online community that reads a new book together every two months. Alumni connect through a private forum and discuss the selected book together!

Career Services UH’s career services aren’t just limited to current students, there are resources available for alumni as well. There are many different job searching tools for alumni such as UHLink, which is an alumni networking tool, as well as CareerShift, which is a job search platform that UH alumni have access to.

Recent graduates have access to these resources as well as Cougar Pathway for free for six months after graduation.

Being There for Fellow Coogs Eventually, everyone will be at a stage in their career where current students will begin to reach out and try to network with alumni as a part of their job search. Taking time to schedule coffee chats can be beneficial in staying connected with the current community and past professors. It’s also a great way to help current students get a head start in their careers through networking.

Events Each alumni network has its own events and attending can be a great way to build connections both personally and professionally within UH’s community.

Events can include fun trivia nights or networking opportunities.

UH Athletics While it’s sad to no longer receive free student tickets, coming back to campus and attending games is a fun way to stay connected. Going to big events like homecoming is also a cool opportunity to see how things are changing on campus, as the University has big plans for the centennial celebration in 2027.

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Senior Quotes: s e i r o m e M t s e B From UH

“In my favorite memory I was in a red costume handing out candy and I was doing a Q & A where people were going and asking me things and it was pretty fun. I really enjoyed it and I think it was honestly one of the coolest things that’s happened.”

-public policy senior Sameer Abdulmajeed

y is finding out “I think my best memor ugh the journey of who I am and going thro I want to do in life, trying to figure out what doing the same alongside people who are le, getting closer thing. Meeting new peop ght I wouldn’t be to other people that I thou ncing something close to and then experie have the luxury to.” that my parents did not or Calvin Pham - media production seni

“Houston people are pretty friendly but everybody is. I’ve never met a mean person right off the bat at UH. Everybody’s willing to help you out. If it’s your first year on campus and you’re lost if you ask somebody, hey, do you know where this is?

They’ll help you out. So just like that kind of warmth on campus.”

- health senior Abigail Jeyaraj

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“What I will mis s the most about UH is going to the Daily Cou gar office after cl asses and hanging out with my friends. I love talking with them. They ’re all very smart p eo ple and I love being with people that share my passions.”

- journalism and political science senior Jordan Navarijo

“What I’ll miss most about campus after graduation would definitely be the people just because, I think UH has an extremely diverse crowd, that’s even more diverse than the city. It’s a really great community here, just a lot of people from different backgrounds, working together, getting along and we’ve got a really passionate campus. I think that’s definitely what I’ll miss the most.”

“Being in the newsroom, it’s been such a blessing I would say and I love coming in here every day and it’s just gonna be something that I’m gonna have to get comfortable with. Not coming to campus every single day, not coming here to this newsroom every day. So, I would just say it’s gonna be an adjustment but I’m really gonna miss my friends, the student paper here at the Cougar and also campus life.”

- journalism senior John Lomax

- journalism senior Robert De La Garza.

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