Kayla Jones, who is receiving a Master of Education degree with an emphasis on higher education, will be the student representative and address her classmates during the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony at the Fargodome.
As they walk across the stage to get their degree and enter the next chapter in their lives, Kayla Jones wants her fellow graduates to reflect on and celebrate the experiences they’ve had throughout college.
Jones was selected class representative to address the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 11 in the FargoDome. The ceremony is for the College of Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Health and Human Sciences.
“I chose my topic for my speech based on the idea that every part of your experiences matter. There is so much meaning behind the things we do and big or small, our experiences are worth telling,” Jones said. “College is a huge journey and it is important that we reflect on our achievements and the work we have done. The experiences I had in college changed my life and I want to share that because my story throughout college can be just as rich as the academic knowledge I have gained in college.”
Jones is receiving her Master of Education with an emphasis on higher education. She also received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from NDSU.
Jones hopes the commencement audience will embrace self-reflection as they look back on their own personal life stories that have shaped who they are.
“I hope the audience can see the value of their own story and the importance of their individual experiences.”
Throughout her time at NDSU, Jones has been heavily involved on campus. She’s the former president of the Black Student Association, a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and she has served on the President’s Council for Diversity, Inclusion and Respect for the past two years.
After she graduates Jones plans to work at a university where she will focus on access and retention for incoming students.
Her advice to prospective students is to be open to and embrace the opportunities they will have in college.
“I would say to let every experience matter,” she said. “Being in college allows you to explore, change your mind and try something completely new. You can find the things you are passionate about during your time at university and be a part of opportunities you never even imagined, so look at every experience as something meaningful whether that is academically or socially.”
Jones is from St. Louis, Missouri. She is the daughter of Aaron and Natlyn Jones.
For more on Kayla’s NDSU experience, visit the official NDSU YouTube page.