Eden Kasprak

Good morning, President Benson, Provosts, esteemed guests, parents, guardians and loved ones. And good morning to the graduating classes of COVID ― 2020 and 2021. We did it! Even through a pandemic, we did it! Not going to lie, it is incredibly weird to be back at UTD, and I am sure some of you feel the same way. This past year has been a tough and especially hard one. From having our spring break extended and not returning to school, quarantining from friends, family, and loved ones, to having to make drastic changes in a small amount of time.

To say the least, COVID was a learning curve for all of us. From designing a college experience to keep the Comet spirit alive, learning how to navigate a virtual classroom, and finding creative ways to have a graduation. But I believe this small pause in our everyday life brought us some time to reflect on what is really important to us. Family, friends, school and health; just to name a few. This time given to us has also brought to light that we should always say thank you and to not forget where we came from.

Sometimes in life, we become so hyper-focused on the endgame, the next step, or a specific goal, that we may forget to stop and look around us. We then realize that many people have helped us along the way, and that the time has slipped away to say thank you. As of right now, some of you may be thinking, “Yep, I definitely did that and who do I thank first?” Will it be that one person that you met at an orientation or Comet Camp that you really hit it off with, but hardly spoke to after that? But if you could speak to them again, would you tell them that the brief conversation you had really impacted your life? Would you thank the professor who tried their hardest to teach a college class over Zoom, even if they weren’t the most technologically gifted? Or would you thank your coaches, mentors, friends, teaching assistants, peer advisors, orientation leaders, academic advisors, lab partners, or even random Comets that crossed your path that helped mold who you are today? Find these people. Tell them, “thank you,” even if it is in the simplest form.

If you all don’t mind, I have a few thank-yous of my own. First off, thank you to Cathy Van Noy for helping me in my freshman year to start off on a clean slate after one of the most difficult years of my life. I would not be here today if it weren’t for you. I also want to thank everyone involved in the Orientation Leader Program, Student Ambassadors, Res Life, Kappa Alpha Theta, and First Year Leader program for letting me serve the University in multiple capacities. And thank you to all of my friends, professors and advisors for making these years something I will never forget.

In the spirit of thank-yous, if you worked on the front lines this year in any way, shape or form, will you please stand if you are able? These individuals deserve the biggest thank you of them all. Thank you for putting your lives on the line each and every single day to keep us safe and to care for our loved ones. Truly, thank you. Let’s give them a round of applause.

Finally, thank you to everyone here who made the school year and this ceremony possible! I know it was not easy.

Aren’t these people amazing? And that’s why I encourage you to never forget where you came from. While some of us were finishing our last years as an undergrad, in the middle of graduate studies, or finishing other endeavors, I know we were looking forward to our last hoorahs in our organizations and academic careers. Some of us may have felt that our college experience was cut short. But I invite you to close your eyes and picture yourself as a new Comet in search of your spark. What do you remember? Hold on to that feeling, and now open your eyes and look at how far you have come. Whether you were involved in everything on campus or just involved in something, you have made an impact on this University. Every little or big moment you have spent here has been significant. From making friends, joining organizations and having major academic achievements, you have contributed to the Comet spirit. So, take that Comet pride, your uniqueness, and those Temoc socks to go forth and conquer! Do what you love and want to do and, as a Comet, don’t settle for anything less.

I truly believe the world, heck the universe, needs more Comets. Because we are the future and travel at the Speed of Bright. So, here’s to you, the Comets of 2020 and 2021. Here’s to the next step!

Congratulations!

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Eden Kasprak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in human resources management. She has served as an Orientation Leader, co-chair of the Orientation Program, philanthropy director for Kappa Alpha Theta, a peer advisor, the Student Ambassador recruitment and social chair, and a First Year Leader. In 2019, she represented UT Dallas at the Southwestern Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference by presenting about mental health, self-care and how important it is to start conversations about mental health, which earned her a “Top 5 Presentations” award. After graduation, she worked as a human resources representative for Caraday Healthcare at the Stonebridge Health Rehab during the pandemic. She is currently working as an HR administrator for AppSumo.