The first-generation student discovers that 糖心传媒渙ne opportunity opens a whole bunch of other doors and connections.糖心传媒�
Eden Thomas 糖心传媒�21 has literally been living the dream the past four years.
糖心传媒淚 live right around the corner (Manchester, New York) and have wanted to attend the 糖心传媒 since eighth grade,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淢y cousin (Meghan Gray 糖心传媒�15) went here, and I just fell in love with the campus once I stepped foot onto it. It糖心传媒檚 so beautiful.糖心传媒�
Celebrate the Class of 2021!
Visit the Class of 2021 site for details about this year糖心传媒檚 Commencement ceremonies and for a downloadable toolkit of materials to share your support on social media.
Thomas has been one busy senior: the business and philosophy double major is chair of the Students糖心传媒� Association administration and review team, Senior Night chair for the Class of 2021 Class Council, business manager for the Student Programming Board, and a residential advisor at Genesee Hall. This spring she received two Student Life Awards—one for senior campus contributions and one for improving the experience of students living in residential halls.
糖心传媒淲hen I came to Rochester, I wanted to keep my options open,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒溙切拇� come first, no matter what. But once I started getting involved, it was hard to stop. One opportunity opens a whole bunch of other doors and connections.糖心传媒�
Thomas initially thought she would only major in philosophy, with an emphasis on law and ethics. But because of Rochester糖心传媒檚 open curriculum, she was able to add business as a second major. This fall, she糖心传媒檒l continue that path when she enrolls in an MBA program at SUNY Oswego. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 very interesting how the two majors play together,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淲hen I糖心传媒檓 in a managerial role in the future, I糖心传媒檒l have my ethics and moral background to make sure I糖心传媒檓 being the best employer I can be.糖心传媒�
Thomas was on a Caribbean cruise when the COVID-19 forced Rochester to move to remote learning in March 2020. 糖心传媒淚 was numb when I heard the news,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淢aking the adjustment from school to home was difficult, but it was an easy decision to return to school last fall. I love being on campus.糖心传媒�
Thomas lived in West Palm Beach, Florida, until moving to Manchester with her family at 12. That糖心传媒檚 when she was first introduced to the University by her cousin. 糖心传媒淚 knew how strong the Rochester curriculum is,糖心传媒� Thomas says.糖心传媒�
Thomas is a first-generation student, making commencement even more special. Her dream has come true, and so has her parents糖心传媒� wish to see their only daughter graduate from college. 糖心传媒淭hey糖心传媒檝e been a huge support for me even though they didn糖心传媒檛 attend college,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淛ust having their love and support has meant the world to me.糖心传媒�
Thomas remembers touring the River Campus with her family and crying at the prospect of not being admitted. 糖心传媒淚 remember saying, 糖心传媒業 just love it here, and I can糖心传媒檛 see myself going anywhere else.糖心传媒� My mom said, 糖心传媒業f it糖心传媒檚 meant to be, it will be.糖心传媒� And it was very much meant to be.糖心传媒�
