Jada Nicole Polard '27
With graduation close, I finally understand what Inside Out was trying to tell me as a kid: Joy and Sadness can sit side by side. I’m excited to walk across the stage with my diploma, and I already miss everything I’m walking away from: bowling with my classmates at the Union, sad unhealthy dinners, breakdowns over calculus and quiet breaks in the Japanese Garden.
At a time when I believed I belonged only in STEM, Long Beach helped me find the career I was meant to love. My professors and mentors guided me every step of the way, from internships in narrative design, content writing, and marketing to my first publications in creative writing.
One of my favorite parts was working as a Digital Engagement Student Ambassador, supporting the school that had given me so much. I loved the work, and I loved the people: the coworkers who became friends and the friendships that made it feel like home. Before leaving, I even got to study abroad in Florence, Italy, and see the world. This school made so many of my dreams come true: travel, school, work.
Leaving is a little sad, and having been here is entirely joy.
Honestly, I didn’t have a big reason for choosing this school until I got here. Then, year after year, from freshman to senior, I kept finding more reasons to love it: the hospitality, the food spots nearby, the people I met, and the clubs I joined. CSULB gave me a chance to discover myself, stay close to family, and get an amazing education.
Work! My dream is to be a UX writer or content designer. Someday, I’d also love to write books and maybe become a creative writing professor. But right now, I’m focused on building my career after college.
I’d love to be a mentor. So many creative writing students feel unsure what to do with their degree, and I want to be a source of support for them. There are so many ways to use writing that nobody talks about, and I’d love to help students see them
