Purpose in Motion
As a first-generation student and December Banner Carrier, Kayla W. channels her purpose into mentorship, advocacy, and intersectional learning at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Interview with Kayla
Kayla W. has always been guided by a strong sense of purpose — to give back, to stay engaged, and to understand how her experiences connect to the world around her.
That drive has shaped her path at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she is graduating with a major in Gender and Women’s Studies and a minor in Black Studies. As a first-generation college student, Kayla approaches her education with a deep sense of responsibility and shares what she learns with the younger people in her life.
An internship and continued networking led her to a full-time role at Girls Inc. What began as a desire to volunteer grew into a commitment to mentoring youth and supporting community-based programs.
Kayla’s academic curiosity led her to intersectional coursework, which helped her explore her identity and connect her studies across disciplines. “My classes are always cross-listed,” she says. “I’m studying Sociology, Communications, Political Science — I’m everywhere.”
She values how LAS programs continue to evolve. “Gender and Women’s Studies is constantly changing; it’s not stagnant,” she says. Faculty across the college integrate new technology and emerging research into the classroom. If she were not graduating this semester, she already knows what she’d take next: Cindy Tekkobe’s upcoming course on Gender and AI.
On campus, Kayla amplifies student perspectives as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board, a role that gives her a meaningful way to contribute to the college. “Your voice is actually heard,” she says.
This December, Kayla will serve as the Student Banner Carrier at Commencement, a recognition of her leadership, engagement, and the purpose that has guided her throughout her time at UIC. Her family will celebrate alongside her as she becomes a proud first-generation college graduate.
To her fellow graduates, Kayla offers a simple message: “Believe in yourself and believe in your journey.”