Excitement is building as seniors in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) prepare to cross the graduation stage on December 13 to celebrate years of growth, challenge and discovery. Their time at NC State has been filled with ordinary and profound moments – lasting friendships, thought-provoking research, spirited class discussions of people, cultures and ideas, and collaborations that stretched their minds and hearts.

As they prepare to leave campus, they’ll also carry with them memories rooted in shared spaces – like Caldwell Hall Lounge, where countless study sessions, club meetings and chance encounters unfolded, helping to shape their journey. The new mural there adds a vibrant layer to that history, serving as a visual reminder of creativity, connection and the stories that make this college feel like home.

For these soon-to-be alumni, the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony in the Lenovo Center marks more than an ending; it is a celebration of resilience, inventiveness and the human-centered skills that define a CHASS education. As they begin to write their next chapter, they will do so equipped to think deeply, communicate clearly, lead with compassion and help build a better world.

As they reflect on their time at NC State, three graduating seniors share what they’ve learned, what they hope to pursue after graduation, and how their CHASS education has empowered them to envision the lives they aspire to lead and the impact they hope to make.

Meet three of our graduating seniors.

Jake Andrichuk

An Alexander Hamilton Scholar, Jake Andrichuk was chair of the University Activities Board, a CHASS ambassador, a Poole Peer Leader and a Resident Advisor. He also participated in the Social Innovation Fellows and University Honors programs.

Majors: International studies and business administration.

Hometown: Greensboro, NC

How do you hope to use your degree(s)? International studies has given me a truly incredible perspective on the intricacies and interconnectedness that exist in the world. We have never lived in a world as globalized as the one we are living in now. I want to figure out ways we can continue this shared diaspora of different cultures, technologies and ideas, while still making sure we develop these connections sustainably, and in ways that can keep up with the more stringent economic and time-related restraints we face. I imagine my career will manifest in some form of international humanitarian and aid work, before I try to tackle the problems I experience on the ground at a higher level.

What skills have you learned that will help you achieve your career goals?
I credit CHASS with much of the way I interact with the world and the people around me. Humanities classes teach you important points about writing, discourse and critical thinking that seep into every facet of life. Courses like The Oil and Gas Crises in the Gulf or History of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict also teach you how to dig and create a version of the truth using the original bones of the story. The way I’ve learned to analyze, deduce, and observe seeps into my relationships with different people, the stories I hear, and the situations I find myself in. CHASS has shaped me in my interactions, decisions, and values in a way that will not only guide me to a career I find fulfilling and good, but will shape the person I am for the rest of my life.

Advice to your freshman self? Never do the same thing more than once. Obviously, this is not a mindset that can be applied to every facet of life; sometimes routine is needed, but I think diversity of experience creates incredible progress and development. As I look back on my time here, I realize that things that have brought me the most love and confidence and laughter and resiliency have been the same ones that felt shaky to take the first step towards. This is easier said than done, but I would push myself to do things that make me a little unsteady, and I wish I had started it earlier and realized what I know now a bit sooner.

How does the mural reflect your CHASS journey?  The split of the landscape is what calls out most to me. Now more than ever, I feel I am stepping through an archway into this diverse and complex landscape that is being informed by so many different things, ideas and paths. CHASS has pushed me to seek that different landscape with a lot going on and maybe a little bit less structure, and actively reach for and pursue the discomfort and ideas it has to offer.

Fiora Rich

Fiora Rich was an officer in the Japan Club, participated in the foreign exchange program from Nagoya, and studied abroad in Nagoya from 2024-25.

Majors: History and World Language and Cultures (WLC), Japanese.

Hometown: Cary, NC

How do you hope to use your degree(s)? With my degree(s), I hope to become either a teacher or a translator/interpreter. I am taking steps towards this by applying to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, through which participants pursue jobs teaching English in Japan. My WLC degree in particular will help me achieve this goal. Language proficiency is undoubtedly useful for a foreign language job.

What skills have you learned that will help you achieve your career goals? The skills I learned through CHASS are also applicable to the kind of work I hope to do in the future. Writing and oratory skills are incredibly useful for something like teaching or translation work. Critical thinking and analysis skills are also good to have, even in daily life. Having them will certainly help me in adapting to or overcoming the challenges of working in an environment with a culture I am not used to, or one such as teaching, which can be unpredictable.

Advice to your freshman self? To my freshman self, I would honestly say that getting involved sooner would have been a great idea. A lot of my figuring out what I wanted to do in the future happened through the programs and clubs I eventually joined. Due to not having a single clue what career path I wanted to pursue when I enrolled, I did not look for those paths in my freshman year, and I feel that was a missed opportunity. 

How does the mural reflect your CHASS journey? It really represents that connection to CHASS, as something that generally deals with all of human experience. For me, especially, looking at aspects of the mural, such as the suitcase, reminded me of my time in CHASS in the sense that traveling and immersing myself in other cultures helped me figure out my own path. 

Kendall Rosenburg

Working full-time as a legislative assistant for Senator Terence Everitt since January 2025, Kendall Rosenburg applied what she was learning in the classroom to real-world situations.

Major: Political science with a concentration in public policy.

Hometown: Haymarket, VA

How do you hope to use your degree? Studying political science in CHASS has been a strong fit for me because it stays closely connected to real-world events and the issues shaping our communities. My coursework and my work at the General Assembly have shown me how academic concepts translate directly into policy and public service. This combination of my studies and direct experience in the legislature has reinforced my interest in North Carolina politics, and I hope to continue building a career in state government or campaign work.

What skills have you learned that will help you achieve your career goals? CHASS taught me how to look at an issue from all sides and understand the bigger picture. Political science classes pushed me to analyze arguments, evaluate information, and communicate clearly, which has helped me every day in the legislature. I also learned how to work with a wide range of people and be an active, thoughtful contributor in group settings. These skills have been huge for my growth and will carry with me into whatever roles I take on next. 

Advice to your freshman self? I’d tell my freshman self to invest in the connections and the community around you. Talk to your classmates, get to know your professors, and build relationships that help you grow both personally and professionally. Put yourself in spaces where you can learn from others and start thinking about what you want your future to look like. The more you engage, the more opportunities you will naturally find.

How does the mural reflect your CHASS journey? What I like most about the mural is how it captures the idea of becoming. The shift from grayscale to bright color feels a lot like my own time in CHASS. It feels like that turning point when you stop moving through college on autopilot and start understanding who you are and what you want. I spent my first few semesters feeling unsure of my direction, almost like I was still in that tunnel. As I kept going, things slowly came into focus. I started to understand my interests, my goals, and the kind of work that felt meaningful to me. The mural’s feeling of stepping into something brighter reflects how my time in CHASS helped me move from uncertainty to a clearer and more confident version of myself.