Getting Involved Key to
UH Grads’ Success

Like Bulhak, Andrea Martinez has taken on twice the workload since arriving at UH. She too is a double major and will earn her bachelor's degrees in marketing and management.

And like Bulhak, she was very involved in extracurricular activities that bolstered her self-confidence and her resolve to succeed. She served as a UH Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, promoting the University to future students. At the C. T. Bauer College of Business, she also contributed to her time and energy to the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA) and recently served as its president.

“Being involved on campus exposed me to different experiences,” she said. “Serving as an Ambassador allowed me to meet peers from different backgrounds. And HBSA opened doors to many career and professional development opportunities. It definitely brought me out of my comfort zone. I am happy to say I met my ‘familia’ at UH and created wonderful memories with them.”

A native Houstonian, Martinez was drawn to UH because of its centralized location in the city and for its collection of rich cultures. Every student has a different story to tell, she said. As a student leader and ambassador, she’s been able to share hers with peers and prospective Coogs.

She is optimistic that her career path will continue at Centerpoint, where she currently holds an internship. Regardless of where she lands, she can point to UH and her involvement on campus for opening new doors.

“I recommend getting involved with an organization that fits your values and helps you achieve your goals,” she said. “I was seeking an organization where the students support each other’s accomplishments. I am deeply grateful to UH Ambassadors and HBSA for helping me grow and motivating me to pursue my goals.”

Another engaged Coog (and yet another double major) who is set to graduate is Zunayra Hemani. She will earn bachelor’s degrees in political science and health.

That in itself is impressive, but her on-campus involvement and volunteer experience is equally remarkable. Presently, she serves as a resident assistant in the University Lofts and previously held down positions such as Cougar Cupboard intern, student orientation leader, UH Public Art ambassador, Women and Gender Resource Center ambassador and Quad Residential Hall Association chair.

All of these responsibilities strengthened her resolve to succeed academically. In fact, her outstanding performance in the classroom has resulted in a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship that will take her to Bulgaria for 10 months this fall.

“Participating in all of these extracurriculars taught me a lot about myself and led me to develop skills such as time management, organization, public speaking and more,” she said. “However, probably the most important thing that came out of this was the friendships I made along the way.”

Hemani became a Coog during the pandemic. Once the campus reopened fully, she took advantage of every opportunity she could find regardless of whether it supported her academic interests.

“Just get involved,” she advises current and future students. “Don’t confine yourself to organizations or positions that are only in alignment with what you think you want to pursue. Venture out and take risks because you might find something you are even more passionate about.”

He attended elementary school in the small town of Devers, Texas (population 447), but Isaac DeBerry eventually found higher education opportunities in the nation’s fourth largest city. Now, he’s set to graduate from UH with a bachelor’s degree in English.

The city and the University were key attractions to DeBerry whose college experience started at the height of the pandemic. Still, he was undeterred and very engaged in campus life, earning a place in UH’s Mellon Scholars Research Program (aimed at self-motivated students interested in humanities research).

“What drew me to UH was the promise of a university that was significantly more diverse than the K-12 experience I already had,” he said. “I had no idea at the time what college was going to be like, but I knew I wanted a big change. I associated a large city with promising opportunities, even if I didn’t know what those opportunities looked like yet.”

He certainly has found opportunities at UH as a Mellon Scholar and as a member of the Honors College. Next up for the aspiring English professor is a trip to Belgium courtesy of a recent Fulbright Scholarship he earned.

According to DeBerry, his time at UH has certainly prepared him for his upcoming journey. Simply being part of a community of Cougars enriched his experience at UH and left him with a network of former faculty turned friends and others who are ready to provide support when needed.

“Building a supportive community has been integral,” DeBerry said. “The experience of receiving feedback, advice, mentorship, and extensions of support both academically and personally has been the most fulfilling experience of my life.”