Graduating senior Rose Yang will urge her classmates to create their own dream life when she gives the class representative speech during the 2 p.m. NDSU commencement ceremony Saturday, May 14, in the Fargodome.
The ceremony will be for the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources; College of Business; College of Health Professions; and College of Science and Mathematics.
Yang will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences.
Her parents, Chue Yang and Chong Lor, are from Laos, and her talk will initially focus on them.
“The theme of my speech is determination,” said Yang, who was raised in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. “It starts off with a background about my parents as children of the Vietnam War and not having the chance to pursue an education. My speech transitions to my siblings and me carrying their strength and perseverance while growing up – my older siblings have successful professional careers, a younger sibling is in nursing school and I’m in pharmacy school. I end my speech with an emphasis on continuing to work hard through the ups and downs in life in order to achieve success.”
Highly active as a student, she was the historian for the Phi Lambda Sigma leadership society, a researcher and social media manager for the “SNAP the Stigma” mental health event and a member of the Green Bandana Project. She also was a College of Health Professions mentor and served on the pharmacy curriculum committee. In addition, she volunteered for the Roger Maris Cancer Center Pharmacy.
Yang was an excellent student, giving presentations at the Research Symposium on Mental Health and NDSU Student Research Day. She received the CVS Health Scholarship and Ben Simons Scholarship, and is currently an intern for the Family Healthcare ambulatory care pharmacy.
“The message I hope the audience takes away from my speech is that it’s not the cards one was dealt that determines who or what one becomes and does. It’s how one plays their cards that will allow them to create their dream life and outcome,” Yang said.
As a junior, Yang was vice president for Weible Hall government and spearheaded an event to gather necessities for the homeless. They collected deodorant, toothbrushes and assorted other items were delivered to a local shelter for the homeless.
She quickly praises the NDSU faculty for their efforts during her collegiate career, with special recognition for Amy Werremeyer, chair and associate professor of pharmacy practice, and Lisa Richter, director of experiential outreach and assessment and assistant professor of practice. Werremeyer helped get her involved with SNAP the Stigma, while Richter is the advisor for Phi Lambda Sigma.
“NDSU faculty and staff always kept their doors open for me. They were willing to share any and all advice to help me – they truly listened to me. Most of the opportunities I’ve received at NDSU were because of the faculty and staff here,” Yang said. “My time at NDSU has been nothing but exciting. I was always challenged, allowing me to grow into a better person and develop skill-sets that I’ll be able to take with me forever.”
She will continue her education at NDSU following commencement, as she seeks her Doctor of Pharmacy degree with the career goal of working in an ambulatory care setting.
“I may be closing one chapter at NDSU, but I’m so happy I’ll be opening up a new chapter as I continue my time here in the pharmacy program,” Yang said.
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