Billy Pickrell

Good morning, everyone! I am so grateful to be standing here as your student speaker, looking out on this sea of shining faces on this incredible day. Can you believe it’s finally come?

If I had to summarize my time at UTD in just a single word, it would be “transformative.” We have spent years of our lives here transforming by broadening our horizons, learning new things, connecting with new and interesting people, and growing one step closer to our future selves. The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences has given us a place to embrace this transformation in a wonderful, enriching community that I can’t imagine my college journey without. Through classes, research, internships and countless more experiences we have slowly but surely changed into new people: people with a shared mission to help our communities and better the world around us.

This change took time and likely started slowly. Almost everyone can relate to feelings of unease and uncertainty during your first week of college. How will I make friends? How will I do in my classes? Where even are my classes? As a first-generation college student, I didn’t walk into college with any sort of guidebook; all I had was my family’s expectations to try my best and get good grades. Over time, though, I learned that your college experience is so much more than just the classes you took and what your GPA is. The most meaningful, most transformative parts of our time in university are the connections we’ve made and the life-changing experiences that only could’ve happened here at UTD. From working closely with professors through being a TA or managing research, to working in incredible programs like a Short-term Working Group or in the Student Success Center, or even just studying with friends late at night, UTD has made us who we are. I would not be who I am today without the many people who’ve supported me throughout this process, and the unique opportunities I have been fortunate enough to take advantage of here. Please, be sure to take time today and thank all of the faculty, family and friends who have helped you transform into your new, incredible self.

When reflecting on my own transformation, it’s easy to reminisce on my first week of classes, scared out of my mind about all the expectations being placed on me and the fears I had. Now, as a First-Year Leader, I’ve spent countless hours mentoring incoming freshmen working through that same transition and showing them that everything will work out. It’s hard to believe we were all once nervous first-years — look at how far we’ve come! Our lives will continue to be bookmarked by these moments, these changes from learner to teacher and back again. I’ve learned that we can transform, can grow to meet the challenges ahead of us and tackle them with relentless determination.

Despite all our growth, I’m certain that nobody’s time here was perfect. No matter how hard we try, it’s tough to forget the late nights, the stressful exams or the flood of things we could “just do later” that somehow always piled up at the end of every semester. We have overcome countless hardships and uncertainties, all of which were worth it to be sitting here today, graduating from this incredible institution and building the next chapter in our stories. Whether you’re entering the workforce to help others through research or community outreach, pursuing further education or whooshing down another path: please take a moment to congratulate yourself and each other for this incredible accomplishment. Reflect on how hard you have worked to get here, and how much further transformation you have to look forward to. But most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate your success and how far you have come! Please, give yourselves a round of applause! I’m proud of us all, Class of 2025! Go Comets!

Billy Pickrell, a member of UTD’s Collegium V Honors Program, is graduating with a double major in psychology and child learning and development. He is a National Merit Scholar and an active member of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) community. He served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Family Research Lab, working on research for adolescent disclosure behaviors and mealtime co-parenting. He served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for both Abnormal Psychology and Child Development courses. Under the direction of Dr. Salena Brody, Pickrell participated in UT Dallas’ Short-term Working Group program, where students and faculty collaborate on a variety of projects. Pickrell served as a First-Year Leader, leading a seminar course that helped freshmen transition into college life. Pickrell also volunteered with BBS faculty as a student representative during outreach and recruitment events for perspective students. Pickrell plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and become a licensed professional counselor.