Overcoming self-doubt: Perseverance and resilience pay off for first-generation 2025 UVU graduate
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- 2025 UVU graduate Keila Herrmann, second from left, poses with friends during Utah Valley University convocations on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
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- More than 12,000 graduates at Utah Valley University celebrated the school’s largest graduating class at their commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- More than 12,000 graduates at Utah Valley University celebrated the school’s largest graduating class at their commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- Crystal Maggelet, CEO of FJ Management, Inc. and Maverik, gives a keynote speech during Utah Valley University’s commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- More than 12,000 graduates at Utah Valley University celebrated the school’s largest graduating class at their commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- 2025 Utah Valley University graduate Keila Herrmann poses in her graduation gown and tassle in this undated photo.
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- The Utah Valley University exterior logo is decorated with balloons in honor of the class of 2025 ahead of commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- More than 12,000 graduates at Utah Valley University celebrated the school’s largest graduating class at their commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- Students walk along a section of campus at Utah Valley University ahead of commencement in the UCCU Center on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
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- 2025 Utah Valley University graduate Keila Herrmann poses for a photo in her graduation gown and tassle in this undated photo.
When Keila Herrmann graduated from Corner Canyon High School in 2019, she questioned if she was even cut out for college life.
Neither of her parents went to college, and she said it felt a bit intimidating seeing her high school classmates start to prepare for their next phase of education.
“I didn’t really know what I was going to do after high school graduation,” Herrmann said. “Everybody was getting into BYU or BYU-Hawaii, or like they’re going to the University of Utah or UVU.”
She ultimately decided on Utah Valley University that fall but would only stay for one semester.
“I failed two of my classes,” Herrmann said.
That only brought up her feelings from being in high school where Herrmann said she struggled with subjects like math and science. When she was younger, Herrmann said she had an individualized education program or IEP for additional help with learning.
“And when I was in college, I was like this is hard. Like, I don’t know what I’m doing. And so, yeah, there was some self-doubt,” Herrmann said.
And if that wasn’t enough, financial troubles also impacted her means to cover tuition costs.
“I was also kind of nervous about going back, just because I didn’t have the money,” Herrmann said.
She enrolled at an aesthetics school in the fall of 2020 and the next year landed a job as an esthetician.
During this time, Herrmann got married, and her husband encouraged her to go back to UVU.
Herrmann said she’d been thinking about going back to school while working as an esthetician but continued to ponder if it was the right move.
“He just kind of mentioned to me, like, I want to support you (in) whatever your dreams are, but you’ve been talking about going back to school, and I’ve just seen how lives can change with going to school,” said Herrmann as she recalled their conversation.
She also began to think about her time as a child and what a college degree would mean for the future.
“I did grow up with a single mom for the most part, and she didn’t go to college, and was supporting both of us and working really hard,” Herrmann said. ” Just kind of looking at that perspective and like being able to provide for myself without having to worry about certain things, and even, like my future family, or even my mom one day.”
The inspiration pushed her to return to UVU in late 2021, navigating 18 credits each semester.
During her senior year in 2024, Herrmann landed a prestigious role as a Presidential Intern in UVU’s student affairs program to align with her goals of getting into public relations, marketing and event planning.
“I had, like, the biggest support with my senior year from working in student affairs, because I learned that UVU has so many available resources to help students succeed, and they really did care about their students. They want to help students the best way that they can,” she noted.
Herrmann is just one of the 12,000 graduates of the class of 2025 at Utah Valley University.
The university says this year marks its largest graduation class yet.
Additionally, Herrmann is among the many graduates who are the first in their families to attend college, which UVU said made up for a third of the 2025 graduating class.
The university’s First-Generation Student Success Center provides personalized support to first-generation students, including mentoring, scholarships and leadership development. GEAR UP and TRIO Student Support Services also provide tutoring, advising and academic assistance for first-generation, low-income students, according to a UVU press release.
During commencement on Wednesday at the UCCU Center, Utah business icon Crystal Maggelet, CEO of FJ Management, Inc. and Maverik, shared her own journey of resilience, being the first in her family to earn a college degree and ultimately entrepreneurship in her keynote speech.
Maggelet encouraged the graduates to be confident, resilient as they strive toward their career destinations.
“You’ve earned your place in a complex, imperfect and still promising world, and I believe you’ll help it shape it for the better,” she told the graduating class.
Maggelet implored the students to lead and remain steadfast amidst life’s obstacles.
“Go for it; be confident. Be resilient and be the first,” she said.
That resilience and commitment paid off for Herrmann, who graduated Thursday with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a double minor in Marketing and Event Planning.
She said beyond the education she received in class, she also learned to let go of fear and doubt in moments of uncertainty — something she hopes other students with similar insecurities keep in mind.
“Remember that not everybody knows what they’re doing, and not to compare and ask for help when you need it,” she said.
The 24-year-old is currently working as an influencer marketing manager and hopes to transition into producing marketing events.
Herrmann credits her family and husband for their motivation to continue school and her time working under Michelle Kearns in Student Affairs in helping to reach her full potential.
“Working with her this last year was just so rewarding in so many ways,” she said. “It set me up for success. I don’t know what I would have done if I wouldn’t have gone back to UVU and not have gotten this internship as well.”
