Valeriya Mesquita, BA ’26

Majors: Latin American Studies, Global Studies

I came to WashU because I was drawn to how flexible it is, and I liked the idea of so many different classes that were exciting to me. I was looking for a place where I could explore a lot of different academic areas. That interdisciplinary experience is something that stood out to me from the beginning and kept shaping my time here.

When I look back, I’m especially proud of my thesis, which I’ve been working on since my junior year. I’ve had a lot of mentorship and guidance, and I’ve really tried to focus within my department and field on something I care about. It felt like a combination of everything — getting to choose what I was working on at the end of all these classes I’ve taken. I met with my advisor a lot, sometimes once a week for a couple of hours, just fully dedicating that time to what I was passionate about. I’m really proud of the final product because it feels like a culmination of all of that.

One of my favorite memories was earlier this year, when a group of friends organized a game of capture the flag in the Brookings Quad. As students, you walk through campus every day and don’t always get to really appreciate it, so it was nice to just be present.

Being selected as a marshal is a great honor. I’ve really loved Arts & Sciences — it’s been the place that’s let me explore all my interests. I think it’s been so amazing to have such an interdisciplinary education, where I’ve taken classes across departments. That’s something that actually drew me to WashU in the first place. 

I would tell my first-year self to just relax and calm down, and to know that I deserve to be here. I was very nervous my first year and didn’t exactly feel like I had found my place yet. I would just tell myself to calm down and trust that I would find my place here — and I really have.

After graduation, I’m moving to New York City to work in finance on a Latin America-focused team. Throughout my time at WashU, I tried to figure out how to bring together everything I was studying and all my interests, and I’ve learned that you don’t have to follow one single path. Even if you go into something like finance, the knowledge you gain from Arts & Sciences carries through.

Tiana Johnson, PhD ’26

Concentration: Mathematics

Arts & Sciences has been meaningful to my journey in part because it brought me back home to St. Louis. My family is here, and having their support locally really meant a lot to me. Being in that environment allowed me to pursue my PhD while staying connected to the people who support me most.

One of my favorite parts of my time here has been being in community with others, especially through the Black Graduate Student Association. So many of the events are focused on building community and being around people who are going through similar experiences. Having that kind of support really means a lot.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is being inducted into the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. It’s an honor to be recognized in that way, and knowing that people see the effort I’ve put forth on campus as well as in my academics.

Being selected as a marshal is honorable and exciting. It shows that the impact I’ve had on campus is not only seen but also felt, and it means a lot to be able to represent graduate students as well as Arts & Sciences.

Looking back, I would tell my first-year self that she belongs here. Even though the journey is challenging, it will be well worth it.

After graduation, I’m hoping to start a job, but also to take some time to rest and really sit in the joy of this accomplishment. WashU has prepared me by helping me develop my leadership skills and showing me the rigor of research, and that I’m capable of managing it.

Da’juantay Wynter, BA ’26

Major: Education
 

I came to WashU from Sacramento, California, as a first-generation student. I applied to 25 schools, and I knew I wanted a university that could guide me. As I was going through the process, a teacher of mine who went to WashU Law saw WashU on my list and said, “WashU is a special place. You’ve got to go.”

That stuck with me. I ended up visiting in December, and when I got to campus, I fell in love with it. It felt like everything I had dreamed of. I knew that coming here would give me the resources, the friends, and the relationships to build a life full of ambition.

One of my favorite memories from my time here is how much I’ve been able to experience overall. I’ve traveled to 16 countries, met so many different people, and had moments that felt bigger than anything I expected when I first got here.

One moment that stands out is getting to meet Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. I remember watching the livestream when she first came to WashU. Four years later, I was picked to ask her a question at her second visit. That was a big full-circle moment for me.

What I’m most proud of is the fact that what I’ve done has extended beyond myself. I’ve been able to be the first in certain spaces, but not the last. I’ve tried to carry that mindset through my time at WashU — being in leadership roles, serving as president of a club, being on boards, and trying to empower and uplift other people wherever I can. For me, it’s always been about making sure I’m not the only one in the room.

Being selected as a marshal is a huge honor. As a first-generation student who had no parents who went to college and really didn’t know what college was going to be like, it means a lot to be in this position now. It took a village to get me here. My professors, mentors, and advisors all poured into me. This is not a solo accomplishment.

After graduation, I’ll be pursuing a master’s in education policy and analysis at Harvard University. My passion is education policy, and I recognize that my story is the exception, not the rule. I want to dedicate my life to helping make it the rule.

WashU prepared me for that in every way. I never imagined going from Sacramento to WashU to Harvard, but I wouldn’t be here without what this place poured into me.

Meet the 2026 the undergraduate ceremony and graduate ceremony speakers.