On May 9th, the Psychology Department gathered to offer their congratulations to our graduating class. Messages of thanks and well-wishes from laboratory teams, mentors, and advisors were projected on the walls all around, and the department head Dr. Janet Boseovski offered some remarks about all the students accomplished during their time here. “Psychology is not an easy major, and when your professors here set high expectations and pushed you to meet them, it was out of respect for the skills that they knew you could bring to the classroom and beyond,” she said.
She went on to talk about a student who mentioned that a life should have “purpose” and thought about what that meant, reminding listeners that the Declaration of Independence’s reference to the pursuit of happiness is not just about momentary joy, but rather about finding purpose in life. “Admittedly, I’m biased,” she said. “But I think that earning your degree in psychology has prepared you well for this life-long endeavor. Sure, you have learned all the terms – the key concepts, the theories – but more importantly you’ve also learned how to think critically about the world around you. You’ve confronted your own beliefs and ideas and broadened your perspective. You’ve learned about other people’s lives, cultures, and challenges. And in doing all of this, you understand more about yourself.”
Graduates Melanie Lancelot ’25 and Yesenia Garcia-Licea ’25 also spoke to the class about their personal journeys and wished everyone good luck in the future. Both have achieved a lot at UNC Greensboro, winning awards and learning things, but they spoke most fondly about the friendships they made and the ideas they encountered along the way.
We wish our graduates only the best in the years to come, and many more successes ahead. As always, the department remains devoted to your continued success in the years ahead.
In the meantime, remember: “Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan.” Make sure you check out the UNCG alumni page and keep your info up to date so the university can stay in touch, and follow the UNC Greensboro Psychology Department on Facebook, if you use it.
