For the first time in 2026, graduation season is upon us. Seniors at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are preparing to walk the stage and receive their long-awaited degrees during commencement weekend on May 16. After years of hard work, many graduates are reflecting on whether college matched the expectations they once had before arriving on campus.
Students from a wide range of backgrounds, colleges and graduate programs will cross the stage this spring. Many scholars vary in experience despite the glamorized college life mindset. As the nation’s leading Hispanic-serving institution and a Research 1 open-access university with a largely commuter-based student population, UTEP offers a college experience shaped heavily by culture, community and resilience.
Senior Jairo Hernandez of the UTEP nursing program is among the students graduating this semester. A Guatemalan and Dominican American from Los Angeles, Calif., Hernandez is also a member of the Texas Nursing Students Association. “Being at UTEP helped me build community with people from diverse backgrounds,” Hernandez said.
“UTEP has allowed me to learn a lot about the borderland community from an educational and cultural standpoint.” Hernandez said his experience challenged many of the stereotypes commonly associated with college life.
“Movies and social media made college seem like the only fun thing to do was party and drink alcohol,” Hernandez said. “I learned that college has so much more to offer for people with diverse sets of interests.”
For many UTEP students, staying close to home while pursuing higher education also provides a strong sense of support during challenging academic years. Hernandez said that connections can make balancing college life and adulthood more manageable.
“Many of us are able to live at home and have the support of our parents throughout the college journey,” Hernandez said. “This, for many, makes going through rigorous courses and young adulthood a bit easier.”
Despite the challenges that can come with earning a degree, many Miners take pride in the relationships, experiences and lessons they gained throughout their time at UTEP.
“My biggest takeaway from my college experience is the acquired ability to form relationships with people of diverse backgrounds,” Hernandez said. “College has taught me a lot about the importance of opening myself up to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.”
As commencement approaches, graduates like Hernandez leave UTEP with more than a degree. Graduates will embark on post-graduation life with the experience of academia, relationships and community curated through a school like no other.
Vanessa Orozco is a contributor writer for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
