As Belleville High School (BHS) graduates made their way to loved ones to give out flowers in acknowledgement of their special relationships of love, mentoring, support and kindness this last weekend, BHS alumni were also wrapping up the next stage of their success in commencement exercises around the nation. One of those special Wildcats was Eliza Woods, a 2018 BHS graduate.

District Administrator Nate Perry remembers it was not long ago that Eliza crossed the BHS stage, grasping her diploma in hand and excited for her future to begin, "Eliza was not the most outspoken student in her class. But she was passionate about her beliefs. That certainly comes through in the commencement speech at Minnesota-Duluth."

And Woods has gone far since moving her tassel from right to left at her own BHS ceremony.

Eliza was recently selected to deliver the student Commencement Address for the CAHSS and SCSE schools at the University of Minnesota-Duluth graduation ceremony honoring the classes of 2022 (2021 and 2020) on May 7th, 2022. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from UMD, Eliza expressed the relationships she built during her college years (and beyond) were just as vital as the studying she did – emphasizing the importance of peoples' stories; as well as, seeing and working to truly understand each individual is key because in Eliza's keen perception, "The world needs more empathy!"

A former student of Susette Alsteens, Eliza began honing her presentation skills (now used to celebrate the achievements of herself and many classmates at UMD) while still a Wildcat under Ms. Alsteens' direction. In addition to her BHS coursework, which included classes like Multiculturalism, Public Issues, AP US History, Spanish (1-5), and AP Lang; participating in extracurriculars like being on the Forensics team, in the musical, and a student of Whitney's Academy of Dance, helped play a significant role in getting Eliza to that podium on May 7th.

Woods acknowledges, "I wouldn't be comfortable performing and speaking in front of groups of people if not for those activities."

Though BHS helped set Eliza on her course, University of Minnesota-Duluth really offered her the right setting to explore and grow. She majored in Anthropology, and minored in International and Hispanic Studies. Within this framework of her academic pursuits, Woods' interests have mostly leaned towards culture, history, race, gender, intersectional environmentalism, and environmental justice.

Beyond her day-to-day studies, Woods was also very active in various clubs and organizations on campus, like the Black Student Association (BSA), the UMD chapter of the NAACP, Attitudes Dance Association, and the UMD Cheer Team. During her sophomore year, she served as the general representative for the BSA and the Second Vice President for the UMD NAACP. She has also been a cheerleader for the past three years. All of these roles, activities and responsibilities have allowed Eliza to learn and grow from the people she has met, worked with, and served.

Addressing her peers, faculty, and family members at UMD's commencement in May, Woods chose to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary work and empathy. Firstly, her speech emphasized that real people often lie at the heart of academic endeavors, so it is the duty of graduates (as academics) to use their training to give back to and uplift others. Secondly, Woods noted she came to the realization during her time at UMD that, "I could learn just as much from my peers as I can from any text book, article, or essay." In this regard, she hopes for a future that emphasizes collaboration through interdisciplinary work and encourages all to look for ways to work together.

In the end, Woods used her address to stress the need for newfound empathy – suggesting to all listening intently to her address, "It is possible to look between the labels that separate us to see another being whose life is worth understanding." Her address offered powerful words to suggest we can get beyond the differences we are seeing in the world and in her words, "Make an effort to march past boundaries in an effort to learn from each other." For Woods, it is through the building of relationships that allows us to unlock the stories, the studies, and the knowledge that will allow us to go forward and create a future that is worth living for everyone. In other words, the pie is infinitely large for us each to have a piece if we just commit to see one another, hear each other, and have empathy for all.

Woods knows that her chance to deliver this wonderful message was the product of all the important relationships she herself has built over the years – from family, to BHS faculty and friends, to mentors, as well as her ancestors! Each has played an important role in getting her to where she is now and she took the opportunity in her moment on that stage to acknowledge those important relationships and give back to her community! Woods is correct – the world does need more empathy if we are going to be able to adapt and make the world a place in which we all can cherish one another. With BHS alumna like Eliza Woods spreading her beautiful message, there is hope!