Looking Back and Ahead with the Class of 2025: Part One

One minute, you’re sitting in the Cutler Majestic Theatre next to complete strangers, listening to college leaders give their orientation speeches. You blink, and suddenly you’re in the Agganis Arena, surrounded by mentors, collaborators, and close friends, waiting to launch into the world.

In between is a blur of projects, exams, shows, shoots, broadcasts, late nights, early practices, heartbreaking failures, and exhilarating successes.

Emerson Today has a tradition of asking graduating seniors from across departments about their memories, they’re hopes, and what they’ll miss most (spoiler: It’s always the people).

Answers have been edited for length and punctuation.

Part One of the Q&As. Check back for Part Two.

Sofia Attaway-Jiménez

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Writing, Literature and Publishing: Publishing
Minor: Leadership & Management and Peace & Social Justice

What will you miss most about your time at Emerson?

The people! I will desperately miss living in the same city as my beloved friends, classmates, professors, and co-workers. Emerson has become more than a school to me: It’s a playground, an office, a theater, a home. I will miss sharing all of Emerson’s nooks and crannies with a community I could have never dreamed of back in high school. 

What was your favorite class, and why?

I feel so lucky to look back and realize just how many classes I’ve loved taking here at Emerson — which makes this question hard to answer!

If I had to choose one class, it would be International Women Writers with [senior affiliated faculty member] Shannon Derby. That class introduced me to so many AMAZING writers I had never heard of, and connected me to Professor Derby, one of the best professors I’ve had at Emerson.

However, I would be remiss to not also shoutout the great classes I’ve taken with [Associate Professor] Mneesha Gellman and [Senior Distinguished Artist-in-Residence] P. Carl! You truly can’t go wrong if you’re with Derby, Gellman, or Carl. 

What song will forever remind you of your time at Emerson?

“Like or Like Like” by Miniature Tigers.

What’s next (or what do you hope is next)?

Meeting the next version of me! I’m looking forward to life outside of school and the routine I’ve built these past four years, and to continue creating alongside the beautiful friends I’ve made along the way. 

Val Garvey

Hometown: Peabody, Massachusetts
Major: Visual and Media Arts

What was your favorite class, and why?

My favorite class was Genesis with [Professor] David Kishik (if you have the chance to take it, or any of his classes, do it!). Despite being almost four hours long, I looked forward to class every week and the time would fly by. It was so insightful and really eye-opening to take a more philosophical approach to the Bible, rather than a religious one, and understand what makes Genesis such a unique and heavily referenced story.

Since the class was all discussion-based, we explored so many topics [and] it was almost impossible to keep up when note-taking — in a good way. David is also incredibly passionate about what he teaches, and it was infectious. Highly recommend!

What song will forever remind you of your time at Emerson?

This is a hard one, but I’ll have to say “Roses” by Outkast. I can’t count how many times I’ve danced and sang to this song with my friends. Whether we were crammed in a dorm room dance party or blasting music by the monument in the Common, “Roses” was (and still is) a staple part of my time at Emerson.

A close second I would like to include is “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse! While I was on an Emerson abroad program in New Zealand, it would play about three times per night at the bar we always went to. Somehow, I never got sick of it, and I don’t think I ever will.

What advice would you give your first-year self?

Find a balance, and be patient with yourself. I do believe that you should get out there and try everything you want to try, but I also think there’s a really common culture of overworking yourself at Emerson. It’s OK to take your time and to leave room to breathe. Everyone says college flies by, but you don’t really understand just how true it is in your first year. There’s so much more to the college experience and life that you’ll miss out on if you pack your schedule to the brim.

Also, imposter syndrome does nothing but hold you back. You made it here, you have every right to be here, who cares? Easier said than done, but don’t be so hard on yourself.

What’s next (or what do you hope is next)?

This summer, I’m doing some traveling ,and then going back to Peabody to work before moving to New Zealand next year! I fell in love while I was there last summer, and I’ve been dreaming of moving back ever since.

I’m excited to meet new people, get involved in the film scene there, and continue writing/making films until potentially going to grad school. My main focus is to just keep creating art, and I’ll see where the wind takes me!

Jillian Hetherman

Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies (Writing Musical Theatre & Film)
Minor: History

Describe your senior year in three words:

Take Me Back!

What was your favorite class, and why?

[Senior Executive-in-Residence] Nancy Allen’s War on Drugs course. This was the final requirement for my History minor, and I learned so much about the past, present, and future of drug use in the United States. The class was not only academically fulfilling, but it also challenged me to confront my preconceived notions about the subject. It left a lasting impact on me and reignited my passion for history.

What advice would you give your first-year self?

1. You know what you want to do, so do it! Don’t be scared, and don’t be so hard on yourself.

2. Don’t dim to fit in — let yourself shine!

3. Go for it. You’ll thank me later 😉

What’s next (or what do you hope is next)?

I’m heading to LA for a producing internship at Electric Entertainment in the fall! And you’ll see me and my shows on Broadway in a few years :).

Leo Lukaszevicz

Hometown: Lancaster, Massachusetts
Major: Business of Creative Enterprises
Double Minor: Marketing Communications and Dramatic Writing

What will you miss most about your time at Emerson?

I’m going to miss the people the most! My best friends and our adventures, the classmates I got to know just by sharing a major, even the familiar faces from passing in the hallway. Emerson is such a tightknit community full of incredible people with unique stories and amazing opportunities. Don’t be afraid to talk to a stranger in the elevator or say “hi” to the girl who randomly sits next to you — some of my best friendships started like that!

What was your favorite class, and why?

Intro to the Creative Economy was the first class I ever took at Emerson, and it completely reshaped how I viewed business studies. It showed me how Emerson really does approach traditional topics through a fresh, creative lens. The moment we were discussing Beyoncé, Little Women, and the Met Gala all in the same class, I knew I was in the right place.

What song will forever remind you of your time at Emerson? 

“Girl, so confusing (feat. Lorde)” by Charli XCX. Work it out on the remix. 

What advice would you give your first-year self? 

Join every club you can! Even if you don’t think it’s for you, or you’re worried you won’t fit in, join anyway! For me, it was the best way to meet new people and explore opportunities and jobs I never imagined myself doing. Getting involved in extracurriculars really shaped my perspective on what I wanted to do, career-wise, and opened doors to some amazing experiences.

Vivian Nguyen

Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut
Majors: Communication Disorders and Sports Communication

Describe your senior year in three words:

exciting, memorable, growth

What song will forever remind you of your time at Emerson?

“Agora Hills” by Doja Cat.  I know this might be a strange answer, but I have great memories of my suitemates and [me] junior year singing along to this song in our Colo[nial] suite hallway whenever it came on.  

What advice would you give your first-year self?

Be more confident in yourself and your abilities! Don’t be afraid to take risks just because you’re scared of what people might say. 

What’s next (or what do you hope is next)?

I am off to grad school for speech pathology at UConn, which I’m so excited about. I also have a really great summer job lined up as an SLPA for a clinic back home. I feel very hopeful about my future and am excited to see what’s in store!