Integrity Cohort

Natalia Camelo

Liberal Arts Honors, International Relations & Global Studies, Latin American Studies, Government

I write this reflection on my first year as a Dedman from a park bench overlooking the Votivkirche in Vienna, Austria. Having just completed my research project for Dr. Hoelscher’s study abroad course, “Vienna: Cultural Memory and the City,” an experience made possible by the DDSP Academic Enrichment Fund, I can now give a three-hour tour of an inverted Neo-Gothic cathedral! Of the church’s many fun facts, what I first learned was the root word of its name: “votive,” which means to give thanks.

This year, I have explored countless academic, artistic, personal, and professional interests that have overflowed into the many different buckets of my life, some of which I did not even realize needed filling. First, the course I will precept for in the fall, Reacting to the Past, where I made amazing friendships in the Liberal Arts Honors program and shared many laughs with Dr. Mason. Then, a variety of Core Texts & Ideas courses, lunch lectures, field trips and deme meetings with the multi-faceted Jefferson Scholars community. And of course, my first-ever Latin American Studies class, Latin American Film & Culture, with artist-in-residence Dr. Juan Pablo Abalo. Afterwards, I stayed at the Benson Center to explore archival research under Dr. Albert Palacios, as a Digital Scholarship Training Fellow with the Lozano-Long Institute for Latin American Studies. There, I was introduced to academia in my native language, merging my passions for history, literature and music until I fully fell in love with my third major.

However, I am especially grateful for all of the distinctly UT activities I could not have ever imagined being part of my college experience! After a semester performing chamber music with the UT University Orchestra, I transitioned to the Butler School of Music’s mariachi program as a first violinist and vocal soloist. Next year, I will be a part of UT’s veteran touring ensemble, Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlan, in its 50th anniversary season. I also ventured into the rigorous but very fun TeXercise training program (FITS) to lead group fitness classes, earning my instructor certification in Latin cardio dance and kickboxing through UT RecSports. And it may sound dramatic, but Dr. Anderson’s IRG book club (which I joined the day of with a virtual copy of the book from the UT Libraries website) changed my life in just one hour. All of these endeavors were entirely new to me, and now, I cannot imagine my freshman year without them.

My everyday life on campus would be incomplete without the University Catholic Center, particularly the Schoenstatt University Women (SUW). I became a part of the organization through the IGNIS service mission, where I learned what it meant to be a member of the greater Austin community. Spending a week living and working among the homeless population of the city gave me a better understanding of how to love selflessly, and also introduced me to my very best friends. I look forward to serving next year as a life group leader and core team member for the SUW branch of the Diocese of Austin. Moreover, participating in UT’s Catholic Studies pilot program while studying social justice at the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies has not only given me a better understanding of my own faith, but also religion as a whole.

My motto this school year has been very simple and easy to sing around campus: every day is a good day, or EDGD for short! And truly, with the constant encouragement of the DDSP family and my integral cohort (plus our wonderfully present faculty mentor, the great MRA), there is so much growth and goodness in every moment. Looking ahead, I am excited to briefly return to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office this summer, and continue that line of work with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office in the fall. But most of all, I am thankful for the support I have received to learn freely this year, and the continued opportunity to love and be loved within the Dedman community, as well as beyond it.

Awa-Susan Currier

Plan II Honors, Government, French Studies

Looking back on my freshman year, I am still in awe of everything it managed to contain in the span of just two semesters. However, between coursework, extracurriculars, and the slow work of building community, I found my footing within the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program. My cohort made a point of showing up for each other, attending events together, and ribbing one another good naturedly when someone missed a meeting. As playful as we are, my cohort became an anchor and guiding light throughout my freshman year. As I began to discover the countless ways I could contribute to UT’s very large community, I remained grounded by a group of peers who have become some of the most important people in my life. It was through DDSP that I found the courage to experiment with my extracurriculars, be bold, and try things I might not have otherwise considered.

That courage led me to two major leaps this year. I joined UT Austin Student Government’s Executive Staff, where I was invited to serve as Associate Director of Informatics and Management for the coming school year; I haven’t made my mark yet, but I’m looking forward to how the role will let me engage with broader communities across campus. I also joined Sustaining Democracy as Director of Outreach, where I pioneered a Know Your Rights workshop launching this coming school year, aimed at helping students engage more directly with their own democracy.

Alongside these new ventures, I’ve stayed rooted in a commitment that’s followed me for nearly three years: serving as student coordinator for a local emergent bilingual English tutoring program in the Greater Austin area. I recruit and train tutors, build lesson plans, and arrange donations of books, school supplies, and technology for students in need. Beyond my responsibilities as coordinator, my role as a tutor has let me build close relationships with my students, watching and encouraging their growth as learners firsthand. It’s kept me connected to my community at home, even as my world at UT continues to expand.

I also began exploring my interest in advocacy through coursework, starting with my first upper division government class. As a freshman, I wasn’t offered much choice in the matter, and I landed in a class called Lincoln as Statesman. While Lincoln’s presidency had never been an area of particular interest to me, as I worked through his speeches and writings, I found myself understanding something I hadn’t fully considered before: the way he viewed his constituents, and the duty he felt he owed them. His integrity shaped the course of his presidency, allowing him to create change. Studying him showed me, in a very concrete way, what genuine advocacy sounds like, and it pushed me further into my own commitment to engaging others in public service.

The knowledge I gained from studying Lincoln followed me directly into my first hands on encounter with legislation this summer, interning at the District 47 Office in the Texas House of Representatives, where I got a front row seat to how policy moves from constituent concern to legislative action, fielding casework and supporting research. It was there that I truly began to understand what it means to serve a district, grounding my interest in public service in the day-to-day mechanics of representation. I came away with a clearer sense of what it means to lead with integrity and accountability to the people you serve, and I’m excited to return to that work in the spring for the coming legislative session.

I am endlessly grateful for the community and friendships UT and the DDSP have provided me this year, and I cannot wait to get back on campus and with my friends and fellow scholars this fall. Hook ‘em!

Thandeka “Thandi” Gwelo

Liberal Arts Honors, Psychology B.S.

My first year here on the Forty Acres was truly one for the books. The idea of going from attending a small high school with a graduating class of less than a hundred students to attending a large, public university was daunting at first; but I quickly found my place at UT.

First and foremost, my freshman year was undoubtedly shaped by the experiences I had through DDSP. The members of my cohort quickly became some of my closest friends. Additionally, Dedman as a whole served as a built-in community that welcomed me, held me accountable, and encouraged me throughout my first year on campus. Some of my greatest laughs and fondest memories from this year are from Dedman events.

After orientation last summer, I was extremely eager to begin my coursework in the fall, and my classes did not disappoint. From learning about the psychology behind personality in my Psychology 301 Honors class to organic polymer reactions in my CH302 class, I learned a great deal about myself and the world around me.

One of my personal goals going into my first year was to get involved on campus through student organizations. This year, I had the pleasure of joining the Liberal Arts Council. As a member of the Student Affairs committee, I had the opportunity to promote student welfare by connecting students to on-campus resources, hosting general wellness events, and fostering community within the college of Liberal Arts. Additionally, I had the pleasure of joining 725 Dream. 725 Dream serves immigrant communities by making citizenship more accessible through financial, legal, and educational resources. Towards the end of the school year, I joined Texas herScript and UT’s chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists. These organizations are directly targeted at supporting students’ development as they prepare to enter the workforce, a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Joining student organizations this school year allowed me to be involved on campus while making impactful contributions to the lives of members of my local community.

This summer, I continued this spirit of community engagement through volunteering. At Duke University Hospital, I spent my time in the Cancer Center as a volunteer member of the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. I offered compassionate companionship in waiting areas, engaged in meaningful conversations, and provided a comforting presence for those awaiting appointments. At UNC Rex Hospital, I spent my time in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. My duties included receiving patients as they emerged from the operating room, providing support to patients, cleaning stretchers, and transporting patients to different areas of the hospital. My time at these hospitals provided me with hands-on experience in patient relations and patient care that solidified my intention to pursue a career in medicine.

As the school year draws nearer, I am looking forward to engaging with my pre-medical coursework and continuing my involvement on campus through serving on the executive boards of the Liberal Arts Council, 725 Dream, herScript and the Association of Black Psychologists.

My first year of college was filled with new experiences, meaningful connections, and opportunities that helped me grow both academically and personally. I can confidently say that I have found my home here at the University of Texas at Austin, and I am looking forward to my next three years here.

Daniel Pate

Plan II Honors, Aerospace Engineering

My first year at UT was full of marvelous experiences. I’ve always valued contributing through effective leadership; however, I didn’t expect to have so many opportunities to utilize that skill as a freshman. Leading PigSkan (a student research project), Ratio Christi (a philosophy organization chapter), and The Texas Horn (a student paper), alongside serving in leadership at Ignite Texas (a student ministry), all showed me that leading is so much more than organization and communication. College leadership has taught me that to be a leader is, first and foremost, about serving those around you and putting their needs above your own.

Beyond formal leadership, I’ve also been drawn to a variety of student experiences that have shaped me into a more thoughtful and considerate person. Last fall, I attended a writing workshop at Yale with Ross Douthat of The New York Times, where I learned that meaningful writing begins with a search for truth. I also enjoyed participating in Clements Center coffee hours, which helped sharpen my perspective on what ethical defense policy truly looks like. Between the hectic demands of the semester, I found rest in books, running, and pouring into my church community at The Austin Stone.

Listening to friends and asking thoughtful questions may have been my favorite aspect of this past year. From my engineering org to my church small group to my Dedman cohort, viewing the world through the stories weaved by others continually presented a delightful opportunity to laugh and cry with people—to know and to be known. I’ve found the community at UT to be vibrant, welcoming, and readily available for those willing to take the risk of caring deeply for others.

My first year has also prompted significant professional growth. This summer, I interned at Enbridge working on Renewable Power Development, where I contributed to gigawatts of sustainable energy projects. My time there impressed upon me the value of direct communication; a phone call is a magical thing in an attention economy, enabling me to build stronger industry relationships while efficiently retrieving vital information for my team. Furthermore, I gained practical insight into business fundamentals—like legal contracts and financial models—while furthering my knowledge of engineering design. It deepened my interest in energy development, while reaffirming my desire to build a strong technical foundation before broadening into overall project development.

Beyond my internship, I made time this summer to travel and find respite from the rat race. I served abroad with missionaries from my church in Europe, sharing a message of hope with refugees whose lives had been uprooted and who face hostility both in their homelands and in their new homes. Additionally, I began pursuing photography, capturing waterfalls, glaciers, and stunning mountainscapes across Iceland during a trip with my sister. Photography continues to teach me the importance of perspective and how much beauty exists in the ordinary when viewed through the right lens. Just as photography brought clarity to visual matters, AEI’s summer honors program brought greater clarity to geopolitical issues, shaping my understanding of why conflicts occur. Throughout the weeklong seminar, I expanded my network of peers interested in policy while exploring the city and making unforgettable memories.

As I look toward the coming year, I am thrilled to continue exploring engineering and the liberal arts, as well as leading the organizations I care about most. Above all, however, I anticipate investing in the lives of those around me—caring for them deeply and being a light to others!