Reflections from the Graduating Class of 2023
The Class of 2023 has had a unique college experience over the past four years. As graduation nears, ten seniors reflect on their time in CLA and share about their best campus memories, favorite courses, advice, and plans for the future.
![Headshot of Amine Berriche wearing a suit and bowtie in front of a beige background](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/AmineBerriche.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=zlEDkwr2)
Amine Berriche’s musicianship and acting skills have flourished during his time as a vocal performance student in the School of Music.
![Phoebe Gadient smiles in a field of sunflowers](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/PhoebeGadient.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=06O0zR9M)
Phoebe Gadient’s media and information minor has inspired her to pursue a career in the advertising and PR world.
![Elizabeth Hockensmith holds a Mickey Mouse-shaped churro and smiles at the camera](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/ElizabethHockensmith.jpg?h=5f43365a&itok=MzJ6inPB)
After exploring multiple subjects, Elizabeth Hockensmith decided to study history because “there is always something new that will shock and surprise you.”
![Mikaela Kadolph smiles at the camera wearing a checkered black and white shirt](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/MikaelaKadolph.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=0kTbB8rP)
Mikaela Kadolph greatly values the skills she has developed in her leadership minor classes, as they help her achieve her goals.
![Headshot of Yumi Kashihara wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with trees in the background](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/YumiKashihara.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=KyPjdmIt)
Yumi Kashihara enjoyed her time as a geography major because it taught her “to think about and deal with problems in a way that [she] never imagined.”
![Headshot of Salahudeen Mirza wearing a blue shirt with trees in the background](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/SalahMirza.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=HyGokucb)
Thanks to his multidisciplinary studies in CLA, Salahudeen Mirza is able to bridge the subjects of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.
![Marina Rajkovic standing underneath a tree with her arms behind her back](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/MarinaRajkovic.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=j2xmJjH4)
While learning abroad in Italy, Marina Rajkovic understood that “you have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to really grow.”
![Kelsey Standish smiles at the camera](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/KelseyStandish.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=S0BqxSJ_)
As a CLA student, Kelsey Standish learned the “importance of participation in things that matter most to you.”
![Headshot of Emma Tierney wearing a long sleeve shirt with a flower pattern](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/EmmaTierney.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=ly_TNtET)
Emma Tierney learned about herself, the University, and what it means to belong as a communications and engagement intern in Housing and Residential Life.
![Headshot of Nola Winje wearing a maroon dress](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/NolaWinje.jpg?h=fca9bc60&itok=-4ODtWUr)
As both a student athlete and strategic communication major, Nola Winje has learned how much she is capable of when she loves what she’s doing.