Graduation is around the corner, and several Mavericks are on their way out to the real world. Kelli Muramaru is one of the many honorable students receiving their degree this spring and has had many exciting experiences as an involved student on and off campus. Muramaru is an out of state student from Honolulu, Hawaii, and has taken advantage of her time away from home, making the best out of her college experience at Colorado Mesa University.
Within a year of living on-campus, she started as a resident assistant in Pinyon Hall. At the time, the building was in need of immediate renovation, so all students who were living in Pinyon moved to the brand-new and untouched Garfield Hall mid-year. The event was stressful and took a little bit of adjusting for her and the residents, but Muramaru looked at this opportunity for leadership. She continued onto the leadership role that summer as the RA in North Avenue Apartments.
Muramaru was also an active member of the Ho’olokahi Polynesian Alliance, and participated in the club’s annual luau as a hula dancer. She also was a tutor for the Japanese students for a semester because she took the foreign language class in high school.
During her sophomore year, a friend told her about the National Student Exchange program through the university, and she took full advantage of the opportunity. Muramaru found herself at the University of Utah during the first semester of her Junior year, and then in New York City for Queen’s College for her second. The exercise science major said that she looked into potential graduate schools when choosing her schools for the exchange program.
Muramaru said she’s learned a lot from living in different areas of the nation.
“Being at the University of Utah really gave me appreciation for the small class sizes we have at Mesa. I didn’t have as much as connection with the professors as I did here, and I felt like I was just another face in the crowd,” Muramaru said.
When asked about her experience in comparison with her semester in the Big Apple, she responded that she learned she would never be able to live in a big city.
“I’ve loved the outdoors and I always have; I could never live in a place like New York,” Muramaru said. She was more than excited to come back to CMU at the end of the year. “I just love Colorado and Grand Junction so much.”
After graduation, Muramaru plans to keep her options opened.
“I’ll be staying in Grand Junction for at least a year,” Muramaru said. “I applied for a few different positions at facilities like Hilltop, Family Health West and at Brady Chiropractic.” Muramaru is already an intern at the chiropractic office. She also plans to apply to graduate school for physical therapy next year.
“I’m most excited to see my family for graduation,” Muramaru said . “I haven’t seen them almost a year now, and I can’t wait for them to see my successes. I feel ready to be able to go out into the real world and get things started.”
Even with this enthusiasm, the graduating senior says that there are several aspects of the campus that she’s going to miss. “I’m really gonna miss the atmosphere here,” Muramaru said. “We’re really lucky to be in a small, friendly environment and trust me, I know from experience. You’re more likely to say ‘hi’ to someone in class or on campus than you would at any other school.
When asked for advice to leave for the underclassmen, she emphasized independence and originality. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Muramaru said. “Find out what you like and don’t like; get out and explore.”
