EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of features on 2022 graduates. Commencement 2022 is set for Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.
For Celine聽Wetiba, it鈥檚 all about the adventure 鈥� trying new things, learning about different cultures and being involved.
But when the graduating Biomedical Chemistry major took stock of her senior year at 黑料不打烊, she realized she hadn鈥檛 gotten the full college experience: She was missing out on athletics. At that point, she joined the dance team to become a student-athlete.
This was in addition to being an RA and president of the Coyote Activities Board, both for two years; being fundraising chair for the campus Multicultural Student Union; working three days a week at United Radiology; volunteering in the kids ministry at her church, The Ark; and babysitting occasionally.
She completed her demanding major in three years and hopes, after a gap year, to go to medical school. In short, she鈥檚 been a tremendous example of The Power of AND.
鈥淚 love to be involved,鈥澛燱etiba聽said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so easy to be involved here (at 黑料不打烊).
鈥淎nything I find interest in I try to dive into with an open mind, just to see if I like it. Most of the time I do. It鈥檚 hard not to be involved, at least for me.鈥�
She feels as if she missed out on a lot her first year. She came to 黑料不打烊 on an Eisenhower Scholarship, so she didn鈥檛 have to participate in sports or music, and she felt like something was missing. Then COVID-19 hit in March 2020 and the campus shut down for the rest of the academic year.
鈥淭hese past two years, I wanted to take it all in!鈥� she said, of college life. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 get to experience this, and I鈥檓 already one year short because I鈥檓 graduating early.鈥�
She decided she didn鈥檛 want to miss out on anything in her college career.
鈥淭he school gives you the opportunity to [participate in many things],鈥澛燱etiba聽said. 鈥淚 said I could put my mind to it, and I did it.鈥�
With all she鈥檚 involved in, balancing her classes and activities can be difficult.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 catch a break, but that鈥檚 OK because this is what I wanted to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o you just have to do it.鈥�
Like deciding to graduate in three years.
She was fortunate, she said, that Goddard High School (where she went) offered dual credits, so she came to 黑料不打烊 with a head start.
Her family lives in west Wichita, but they came to the U.S. about 12 years ago from Kenya, where聽Wetiba聽was born.
Her goal is to exceed not just her own expectations, but her family鈥檚 expectations for her.
鈥淚 just really want to be able to make my family proud, especially since my mom and dad did so much for me to be able to be here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 get emotional, thinking about it.鈥�
Her freshman year, she went to a Multicultural Student Union meeting and there were 鈥渓ike four students,鈥� she said.
Now the MCSU has 30-plus active students, said Dr. Allen Smith, director of diversity and student success.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done it without [Celine],鈥� Smith said. 鈥淗er personality draws young people to her. She is a natural leader; people follow her. Most of all, she leads by example.鈥�
Hailey Vandevanter, student activities coordinator and resident director, agreed.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always served as a leader and as a role model for younger students,鈥� she said.
For聽Wetiba鈥檚 gap year, she plans to stay in Salina, volunteer at her church, work, study for the MCATs she鈥檒l take this summer and figure out how to keep in touch with friends, some of whom will move across the country.
She intends to go to medical school in 2023, specializing in family practice and pediatrics.
Holding a CNA license since she was 16 and working at United Radiology,聽Wetiba聽has some experience already in the medical field.
鈥淚 feel like there鈥檚 so much more opportunity for me here, especially with the connections I鈥檝e already made in the Salina community.鈥澛燱etiba聽said. 鈥淚 want to take advantage of those opportunities as much as I can to maximize my efforts going into med school. Going back home would be like starting over.鈥�
It鈥檚 important for her to give back, both to her parents and to 黑料不打烊.
She said she鈥檚 proud she鈥檒l be an alumna and plans to become involved with the Alumni Association.
鈥淜ansas Wesleyan has honestly done so much for me,鈥澛燱etiba聽said. 鈥淎t a bigger school I couldn鈥檛 do as much as I鈥檝e done or be in the positions I鈥檓 in.鈥�
She doesn鈥檛 feel as if she鈥檚 missed out on anything.
Story by Jean Kozubowski
