Graduating Slugs prepare for the big day—and their next chapter

It’s commencement season, and 3,000 Slugs are gearing up to cross the stage, with graduations taking place June 15–18.

UC Santa Cruz Slug Crossing 2023 — Credit: UC Santa Cruz

To celebrate along with the UC Santa Cruz Class of 2023, watch the video series, My voice will ____________, below. Here, a few graduating students have shared their stories and talk about how their voices will move the world forward.

My Voice Will: Help Define Criminal Justice Reform
Guneet Hora, B.A., legal studies and psychology

“I’m taking a class right now called transcommunality, where we go to Soledad prison and speak to the incarcerated men there. I would like to learn from these men and take what I’ve learned from UCSC to learn more about how the system can be reformed, because it only works for some people. So, I’d really like to be part of the advocacy work to change that.”

My Voice Will: Help Uplift the Next Generation
Allison Nguyen, Ph.D., psychology; M.A., linguistics

“In my lifetime, I hope that we’re in a place where everyone feels like they belong in academia, and everyone is supported, and everyone has the chance to reach their dreams and their goals.”

My Voice Will: Aid in the Fight For Human Rights
Samantha Moore, B.A., politics and philosophy, Merrill

“Part of the goals in my life is that I want to improve human rights so that it encompasses perspectives of people from all over the world and that it’s not just super Western dominated.”

My Voice Will: Diversify the Future of Space Exploration
Miguel Tamayo, B.S., computer engineering, College Nine

“Here on Earth there are so many boundaries like cultural, religious, physical boundaries, but when we go to space and you see Earth from above, you realize that we are literally like one tiny speck just floating around in space…. All the differences that we see here on Earth, you don’t see them in space.”

My Voice Will: Lead the Fight for Trans Liberation
Vann Jones, B.A., feminist studies and history of art and visual culture

“I think what I’m really excited to be able to do in the future is really just showcase the wide range of experiences that transgender people have and hopefully bring more understanding. I just want to be able to make the world a kinder and safer place for people, and people like me.”