Each year, 91福利社鈥檚 Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University.听Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.听
Cristal Guzman鈥檚 passion for advocacy and care for others started long before she stepped foot on 91福利社鈥檚 McNichols Campus.听
It goes back to her childhood as a Mexican American in Hamilton, Mich., a rural community on the western side of the state.听
鈥淚 saw how not only immigration policy impacted my family, but how they were treated differently by society,鈥 Guzman said. 鈥淚 remember hearing insults and derogatory terms being thrown around at a young age and being so confused.鈥澨
Those moments sparked Guzman鈥檚 interest in making a difference through advocacy and the law. They also inspired her to create a welcoming community at 91福利社, where she鈥檚 served as a campus leader for the last three years.听
On Saturday, Guzman, a first-generation college student, will graduate one year early as the valedictorian of UDM鈥檚 Class of 2025.听
It鈥檚 an unexpected conclusion to Guzman鈥檚 undergraduate career 鈥 that鈥檚 because she never planned on applying to be valedictorian.听
鈥淚 ended up submitting my application the last day it was due,鈥 said Guzman, a Political Science major. 鈥淏eing a first-gen student, part of that journey is combatting a lot of imposter syndrome and feeling like it鈥檚 not a space that鈥檚 meant for you.鈥澨
Finding community听
Guzman was first exposed to 91福利社 as a middle schooler, when her brother attended an event hosted by the Engineering program.听
When it came time to make her college decision, a 鈥渇ull-circle moment鈥 brought her back to UDM.听
鈥淚t was kind of out of the blue,鈥 Guzman said. 鈥淚 was initially planning on committing to University of Michigan, and then something inside me just said, 鈥業 think this is where I鈥檓 supposed to be.鈥櫶
鈥淗aving that smaller school creates a closer-knit community, and that was something that I really valued and still really value. I would not have gotten as many opportunities and support anywhere else.鈥澨
Guzman听wasted little time forging that sense of community at UDM.听
As a freshman, she founded the Latinx Student Union and got involved with Titan Dreamers, an immigration advocacy group that is part of University Ministry鈥檚 social justice programming.听
With Titan Dreamers, Guzman was able to experience the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, one of the largest annual student social justice conferences that brings together Jesuit institutions from across the United States.听
Participating was meaningful for Guzman given her background, but it also provided her with an impactful teaching moment.听
鈥淭hat involvement made me realize the importance of not only doing advocacy work but also taking the time to educate our fellow classmates and peers,鈥 Guzman said. 鈥淲e have to have patience and not expect everyone to come in with the same knowledge base, because everyone鈥檚 lived experiences are different.鈥澨
Guzman later served as vice president of the Student Government Association as a sophomore. She also worked as a resident advisor and was part of the Feminist Coalition and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.听
鈥淭o be able to have the sense of community meant a lot, because a lot of what I鈥檝e done here has to do with my roots and my own lived experience,鈥 Guzman said.听
It also helped Guzman with transitioning to college.听
First-generation college students can face several challenges and barriers during their educational experience. According to First Gen Forward, first-generation college students graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree at a rate of 24% versus 59% for continuing-generation students.听
While Guzman faced her share of challenges, what helped was knowing she wasn鈥檛 alone.听
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of other first-generation students on this campus, which I really love, because it鈥檚 such a good reminder that it鈥檚 OK,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all facing imposter syndrome. We are all going through it; we鈥檙e not by ourselves.鈥澨
Academically, Guzman 鈥 who minored in Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies and Philosophy 鈥 worked toward her goal of attending law school to become a policy writer.听
91福利社鈥檚 Pre-Law Program helped prepare her to achieve those next steps.听
She participated in moot court, law class simulations and legal research and writing courses. These hands-on experiences helped her gain internships with the Allegan County Public Defender’s Office and Friend of the Court after her freshman year.听
鈥淚nstead of being on the forefront of politics, I want to do more behind the scenes work,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 would love to be a policy expert that representatives come to.鈥澨
Taking up space听
A lot of good has come of Guzman鈥檚 first-generation journey.听
She said it has helped her grow as a person and proves that she is worthy of opportunities.听
鈥淏eing able to prove to myself that I do belong in higher education and these spaces that I never thought I did before, it鈥檚 very validating,鈥 she said.听
Guzman got a reminder of that earlier this year.听
Megan Novell, executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and her Honors thesis advisor, encouraged Guzman to apply as class Valedictorian.听
It was another opportunity to conquer imposter syndrome.听
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 always preaching to others to go for it and that was a moment where I had to prove to myself that you need to do it, too,鈥 Guzman said. 鈥淵ou need to believe in yourself, even if you feel like you鈥檙e not good enough or not deserving.听
鈥淚f I鈥檓 going to preach these things, I also need to live them out. Don鈥檛 let your imposter syndrome stop you from reaching for opportunities. You belong in these spaces and are supposed to be here.鈥澨
Guzman鈥檚 鈥渋ncredible heart鈥 has stood out to Novell.听
鈥淪he thinks and cares deeply about justice, about being a good person and doing the right thing, and she lives it in her academic life, in her work and in her relationships with others,鈥 Novell said of Guzman.听鈥淎dvising her on her Honors thesis was the best part of my year.听 Cristal has so many gifts, and we have been very fortunate that she has shared them with us.鈥澨
Guzman鈥檚 childhood experiences fueled a desire to make a difference in the world. They’ve also helped her create a welcoming community at UDM.听
As she prepares to walk across the stage in Calihan Hall and deliver her valedictorian speech, Guzman is grateful for what her journey has brought her.听
鈥淟eaning back on that community and allowing others to be there for support has taught me a lot,鈥 Guzman said. 鈥淎nd in creating the community, that brought me a lot of joy, because where I grew up, it wasn鈥檛 so accepting. 听
鈥淏eing able to be the person that I needed when I was younger was very healing for me.鈥澨
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