“Looking for a full college experience and affordability, I committed to the University of Utah. I love the idea of living in a city and starting new adventures and meeting new people.  

I came in originally for social work. I have always loved service and being able to engage with communities. I took an intro to sociology class with Theresa Martinez and it really altered my perspective on how much we can learn about communities, not just by serving them but by evaluating ways we engage with each other. Cultural aspects and social beliefs affect everyone day to day. Diving into research around sex work, sexual violence and specifically sexual violence on college campuses is what led me to gender studies—specifically sex education, feminist studies and sexual violence. 

I like to call all my involvements my second home. I really enjoy what I do but I think the Bennion Center has been a guiding path for me. Taking Community Engaged Learning courses has been really helpful and meaningful because they have a real impact on the communities I am surrounded by. ASUU initiatives and events have made an impact on campus education by having safe spaces for students. In the Union Programming Council, I have been able to mentor the freshmen. In my years, I have been a resident advisor continuing to build more connections on campus and in housing. As a university ambassador, I have been able to relate to prospective students and share my experiences at the U that have been valuable to me.   

I want to make a lasting impact through roles like being a presidential intern or Bennion Scholar, and by mentoring others to inspire and teach valuable lessons. As an intern, I hope I can provide more insight into safety on campus and overall benefit the university.  

My dad always says ‘The best investment you can make is in yourself,’ even though some students may graduate with debt when pursuing their education, in the end, they gain valuable insight into themselves and their professional development. The investment is in themselves and a solidified job experience after graduation. That is always something I think about when looking at big decisions.  

I am a proud cat mom. Her name is Peach and she has an Instagram @thelifeofpeachcobbler, give her a follow!”  

—Celine Cardeña is a third-year student double majoring in sociology and gender studies originally from Logan, Utah