{"id":21918,"date":"2025-05-10T09:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T13:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/?p=21918"},"modified":"2025-05-12T10:09:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T14:09:34","slug":"class-of-25-childhood-experiences-fuel-valedictorian-to-make-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/2025\/05\/10\/class-of-25-childhood-experiences-fuel-valedictorian-to-make-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of ’25: Childhood experiences fuel valedictorian to make a difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CristalEach year, University of Detroit Mercy\u2019s 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.\u00a0Click here<\/a> for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Cristal Guzman\u2019s passion for advocacy and care for others started long before she stepped foot on University of Detroit Mercy\u2019s McNichols Campus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It goes back to her childhood as a Mexican American in Hamilton, Mich., a rural community on the western side of the state.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw how not only immigration policy impacted my family, but how they were treated differently by society,\u201d Guzman said. \u201cI remember hearing insults and derogatory terms being thrown around at a young age and being so confused.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those moments sparked Guzman\u2019s interest in making a difference through advocacy and the law. They also inspired her to create a welcoming community at Detroit Mercy, where she\u2019s served as a campus leader for the last three years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CristalOn Saturday, Guzman, a first-generation college student, will graduate one year early as the valedictorian of UDM\u2019s Class of 2025.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an unexpected conclusion to Guzman\u2019s undergraduate career \u2014 that\u2019s because she never planned on applying to be valedictorian.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI ended up submitting my application the last day it was due,\u201d said Guzman, a Political Science major. \u201cBeing a first-gen student, part of that journey is combatting a lot of imposter syndrome and feeling like it\u2019s not a space that\u2019s meant for you.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding community<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guzman was first exposed to Detroit Mercy as a middle schooler, when her brother attended an event hosted by the Engineering program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it came time to make her college decision, a \u201cfull-circle moment\u201d brought her back to UDM.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was kind of out of the blue,\u201d Guzman said. \u201cI was initially planning on committing to University of Michigan, and then something inside me just said, \u2018I think this is where I\u2019m supposed to be.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guzman\u00a0wasted little time forging that sense of community at UDM.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s social justice programming.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CristalParticipating was meaningful for Guzman given her background, but it also provided her with an impactful teaching moment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat involvement made me realize the importance of not only doing advocacy work but also taking the time to educate our fellow classmates and peers,\u201d Guzman said. \u201cWe have to have patience and not expect everyone to come in with the same knowledge base, because everyone\u2019s lived experiences are different.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to have the sense of community meant a lot, because a lot of what I\u2019ve done here has to do with my roots and my own lived experience,\u201d Guzman said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It also helped Guzman<\/span> with transitioning to college.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s degree at a rate of <\/span>24% versus 59% for continuing-generation students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Guzman faced her share of challenges, what helped was knowing she wasn\u2019t alone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of other first-generation students on this campus, which I really love, because it\u2019s such a good reminder that it\u2019s OK,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re all facing imposter syndrome. We are all going through it; we\u2019re not by ourselves.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Academically, Guzman \u2014 <\/span>who <\/span>minored in<\/span> Women\u2019s and Gender Studies and Philosophy <\/span>\u2014 worked toward her goal of attending law school to become a policy writer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Detroit Mercy\u2019s Pre-Law Program helped prepare her to achieve those next steps.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cristal\u201cInstead of being on the forefront of politics, I want to do more behind the scenes work,\u201d she said. \u201cI would love to be a policy expert that representatives come to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking up space<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of good has come of Guzman\u2019s first-generation journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She said it has helped her grow as a person and proves that she is worthy of opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to prove to myself that I do belong in higher education and these spaces that I never thought I did before, it\u2019s very validating,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guzman got a reminder of that earlier this year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Megan Novell, <\/span>executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and her Honors thesis advisor, encouraged Guzman to apply as class Valedictorian.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was another opportunity to conquer imposter syndrome.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m 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,\u201d Guzman said. \u201cYou need to believe in yourself, even if you feel like you\u2019re not good enough or not deserving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m going to preach these things, I also need to live them out. Don\u2019t let your imposter syndrome stop you from reaching for opportunities. You belong in these spaces and are supposed to be here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guzman\u2019s \u201cincredible heart\u201d has stood out to Novell.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe 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,\u201d Novell said of Guzman.\u00a0\u201cAdvising her on her Honors thesis was the best part of my year.\u00a0 Cristal has so many gifts, and we have been very fortunate that she has shared them with us.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guzman\u2019s childhood experiences fueled a desire to make a difference in the world. They’ve also helped her create a welcoming community at UDM.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeaning back on that community and allowing others to be there for support has taught me a lot,\u201d Guzman said. \u201cAnd in creating the community, that brought me a lot of joy, because where I grew up, it wasn\u2019t so accepting. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to be the person that I needed when I was younger was very healing for me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0By\u00a0Ricky Lindsay<\/a>. Follow Detroit Mercy on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>. Have a story idea? Let us know by\u00a0submitting your idea<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Moments from Cristal Guzman’s childhood sparked her interest in making a difference through advocacy and the law. They also inspired her to create a welcoming community at Detroit Mercy, where she\u2019s served as a campus leader for the last three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":21926,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[6,4404],"tags":[6393,6165,1009,6225,1333],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2025\/05\/guzman_feature.jpg?fit=304%2C193&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbwnTV-5Hw","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21918"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21918"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21932,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21918\/revisions\/21932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}