Vianney Manjarrez
Compare your career plans as a first-year student with your career plans now. Why did your plans change or not change?
As a first-year student, I thought I was going to be a physics major and go into research and make this great discovery, but once I took my first class I knew that was not for me – not because I couldn’t do it, but rather because that lifestyle was not for me. Now I am fully in love with my career plans: although not solidified, I know I want to go into the corporate world and utilize my communications major in either marketing, brand management, or PR. These career paths will allow me to be more creative, extroverted and the environment of the corporate world is truly empowering to me as a Latina woman.
Now that you are a graduating student, what advice do you wish you could have given yourself as an incoming student four years ago?
I would tell myself that although I do come from a very different environment as the majority of people on this campus, that I am just as deserving of being here. Don’t be afraid to take up space and have your voice heard.
What was the most rewarding experience you had as a Wake Forest student?
By far my most rewarding experience was being a first generation student ambassador for the OPCD (Office of Personal and Career Development). Not only did that program make what I once thought was only a reality in the movies a more attainable reality, it also presented me with all that I could aim to achieve and gave me all the preparation for me to feel fully capable of being a competitive applicant. Not only did I get to do that for myself, but I was also able to then share that knowledge with all of my fellow first gen peers. Seeing them getting closer to achieving their dreams brought up a lot of emotions in me, truly fulfilling.
Who most impacted your Wake Forest experience?
The person that has impacted my journey through Wake Forest would definitely be Dr. Nate French. With me being a Magnolia scholar and him being the director of that program, I have built a relationship with him that started my first-year student year and taken it all the way to my senior year. Dr. French has always been there to reinforce the idea that I do belong here whenever I have doubted myself. He has always provided an ear when I needed advice, whether it was academic or just about my personal life or even when I just wanted to rant. He has opened many doors for me and has brought me along for many projects that have changed my experience for the better here at Wake Forest. I consider Dr. French to be like my on-campus dad, especially considering that he has helped me navigate this journey as a first generation student who had no prior knowledge of how to do this. With him being first generation himself, he always makes me feel understood. So definitely I want to give a shoutout to Dr. French!
What was your favorite class outside your major or minor areas of study and why did it appeal to you?
My favorite class outside of my majors would definitely have to be Latin American & Latinx Philosophy, as it was a class in which I could dive deeper into my identity as a Latina and how that helps me have a better understanding of the lease in life that I experience. I love that it was also a space in which I could share my experiences as a Latina with people of different ethnic backgrounds and let them get a glimpse of my world.
What non-academic experience at Wake Forest was most meaningful to you?
The friendships I have built are by far the most meaningful thing to me. When I first arrived, I thought I would have a hard time making friends, especially considering that we got here at the height of the COVID pandemic, which presented a lot of obstacles for us to actually get to know people. Luckily I was fortunate enough to find my people. I now have the most supportive friend group ever. We are always there for each other, whether that means attending each other’s events, screaming at the top of our lungs when one of us is performing, or just being there to hold each other up while the other feels like their world is shattering. These are friends that I plan to take with me for the rest of my life.
What is the most fundamental change you’ve experienced since your time as a first-year student?
I have changed – but in the complete opposite way that I thought I would. I have found who I am, I have found my voice, and today I stand more proud than ever within my identity. I have learned that my identity is not a hindrance but rather something that I choose to embrace to the fullest degree in my daily life, regardless of what space I am in.