Dragon Ambassador to speak at Commencement

Biology major Paighton Volk will speak to her peers in the College of Science, Health & the Environment at commencement on December 19.

Paighton is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology with an emphasis in medical and cellular biology and minors in public health and ecology & evolutionary biology. But this is just the start of her higher education journey, as she plans to attend dental school in the future.

BS in Biology

"Growing up, I had great experiences at the dentist, which I know is the opposite for a lot of people," she says. "I want to give others the great experiences I've had."

While she's confident in her decision, Paighton admits it took time to figure out what healthcare role was best suited for her.

"I always wanted to do something in the healthcare field, but having a work-life balance and time for my hobbies is important to me, which ruled out being a doctor," she says.

Paighton is intentional with her time outside of work and school, which she wants to carry with her into her career. That's why she started Letters of Love, a club on campus that meets biweekly to write encouraging cards to children in hospitals. Letters of Love is a global initiative that sends these cards to hospitals all across the world.

"Service can be intimidating, and there are a lot of things to juggle in college, but taking a little bit of time can mean the world to someone else," Paighton says.

While college students may have little spare time to commit to volunteer service, they still can serve, and Paighton wanted to provide a convenient way for them to volunteer and understand the importance of serving others.

In her spare time, she's always found a way to be plugged into campus life. She was a resident assistant (RA) for two years and is currently a Dragon Ambassador, giving tours to visiting students and representing the university.

"MSUM grew in me a sense of responsibility, having to apply rules as an RA for the safety and well-being of everyone," she says.

While at MSUM, the encouragement she received from faculty impacted her greatly. "The bioscience professors were especially supportive, always going out of their way to support me and my goals," she says.

Paighton will be walking across the graduation stage on December 19, carrying with her an excellent college education, a plethora of life-changing experiences, and plenty of wisdom to share with future dragons and graduating dragons alike.

Here are a few tips Paighton shares for dragons who want to be successful in college:

Make time for yourself: "My first year, I wanted to be academically successful so bad that I was not giving myself time for anything else, and I struggled, isolating myself. Make time for the things you enjoy," she says.

Study topics/take classes you enjoy: "Learning is easier when you actually want to learn about the topic, it makes it fun," she says.

Get involved on campus: "I know that's cliché, but having a community you can look forward to seeing every week is great," she says.

For her classmates and the graduating class of 2024, she wants to emphasize what one of her high school teachers instilled in her, that "our biggest fear in life is failure, and that fear will hold you back. Don't be afraid of fear. Embrace it, and learn from your mistakes," she says.