Melissa Badger (’25), a student in Westminster’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program, has been selected as the graduate student speaker for the upcoming graduate commencement ceremony. Melissa created a vision board earlier in the semester with an image of a woman speaking in front of a crowd, and while she had no concrete plans, it seemed like a course focused on communication and public speaking would have fit her vision. When the emails went out encouraging students to sign up to be the graduate commencement speaker, it didn’t make sense for Melissa to apply. It was a short turn around and she felt the pressure of approaching finals and an increased workload. Still, she felt pulled to the chance of speaking at graduate commencement.
When asked about what pushed her to apply, Melissa spoke about the self-confidence and trust within herself that she had created.
“But it went deeper than that. Inspiring and empowering others is in my bones and in the makeup of my spirit. And that kept me moving forward in the process when I felt the pressure of the deadline and self-doubt crept in. And on the way to my audition, when the self-doubt was loud and the nerves started to rattle me, a car pulled in front of mine with a license plate that read, ‘Trust.’ So, I did.”
Melissa hopes to share what commencement can mean for each and every student graduating as well as the lifelong goal of learning and development that students should reach for. Being the graduate student speaker is a personal accomplishment for Melissa, demonstrating her growth as a student at Westminster. Making the choice to come back to school for her master's degree was originally a means to an end for Melissa, but it has revealed numerous opportunities and inspired her further.
When asked about the impact of this program and becoming the graduate student speaker, Melissa shared how it has changed both her and her son.
“One of the greatest outcomes of going for this opportunity and achieving it has been the impact of this process on my 11-year-old son. School was hard working full time and going to school during my undergrad, so I couldn’t imagine it with also being a mother. But through this process, I have seen that having this kiddo in my life and going back to school has given me so much more than I assumed it would ‘take away’. He has been so proud of me and encouraging while watching me work so hard and practicing my speech. The light in his eyes when he first heard my speech and when I told him I won the audition were pivotal moments in our lives. He just told me that he is applying to be a student speaker at his 5th grade promotion. I aimed to inspire my fellow graduate students, but my reach was so much deeper and wider. I didn’t expect that out of this process.”
After graduating from Westminster’s graduate school Melissa plans on taking the CPA exams to become a licensed CPA. She hopes to use this as a basis for her career aspirations, earning potential, and an influence in her community and leadership aspirations.
–Violet Czech ('26)
