CHS Students Reflect on Commencement, Look to Future

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

It didn’t hit Noor Eqal until she was standing in line, waiting to cross the stage.

“I was very excited to graduate with the friends I made through the College of Health Sciences,” said Eqal, a Lexington native who Friday graduated from CHS with a degree in Human Health Sciences (on the pre-med track). “It wasn’t until I was walking across the stage that I realized the impact of my accomplishments.”

Eqal joined about 70 other College of Health Sciences students that day who graduated during the University of Kentucky’s winter commencement ceremonies in Rupp Arena.

But to Eqal, it means a little more, because she is a first-generation student.

“I am the first in my family to achieve a Bachelor’s degree and as the oldest child, I am setting an example for my younger siblings,” she said. “I am showing them that hard work pays off and that they can pave their own futures. Additionally, I was reminded of how much I have matured since I last walked across the Rupp Arena stage at my high school graduation. College has helped me grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually and has been the best decision of my life.”

She also allowed herself to look into the future.

“As I reflect on the past, I also look to my future in medicine with great excitement and curiosity,” she said. “I can only imagine who I will be in four years as I graduate medical school.”

Lexi Herbeck says she knew she wanted to be a Wildcat long before she ever stepped foot on campus.

“It truly felt like a dream come true,” said Herbeck, a native of Millstadt, Ill., who majored in Medical Laboratory Science. “I have known I wanted to attend UK since I was 13 and to be a wildcat for the last 3.5 years was an honor, and to be a part of the Wildcat Alumni is even better. This university has allowed me to grow in so many ways and being able to experience the final chapter that is graduation was so special.”

In a few weeks, she will be starting a job as a Lab Tech at Baptist Health Lexington.

“My family was able to travel halfway across the country to be there with me and I felt so lucky to share that day with them,” she continued. “Even though my Mom could not be there in person she had a front row seat in Heaven, and just knowing that I completed my UK journey with my friends and family watching was so special.”

Austin Robinson, PhD, said that after graduating with his doctorate from the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program, he can now enjoy not being a student for a while.

“The graduation ceremony was the exclamation point at the end of my PhD journey,” he said. “I didn’t believe it was over, even after crossing the stage. But it is!”

In August, Robinson will start a tenure track assistant professor position in the music therapy department here at UK.

Before that, he said he’s going to relax a bit.

“Friday night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while,” he said. “And going out Saturday evening, enjoying some amazing local music without feeling guilty because I wasn’t writing — was amazing!”

Mallory Brashear, a native of Salt Lick, Ky., felt the same. She graduated with a degree in HHS on the pre-Physician Assistant Studies track. Next, she will begin UK’s Physician Assistant Studies Program on the Morehead Campus.

“I felt like I put in my best work and effort all for this moment, and in the ceremony, I felt so proud of myself,” she said. “The feeling now — if I could go back and do it all again, I would!”