Homeland Security Grad Looks Forward to Pursuing a Career in Service

Eren Sarikaya ’26 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security, with a concentration in Emergency Management, and minors in National Security and Criminal Justice.

It feels surreal, emotional, and honestly difficult to fully put into words. A part of me is still trying to process that this moment is finally here. Reaching this point took a great deal of hard work, sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance. There were many times throughout my time at the University when things felt uncertain, exhausting, or overwhelming, but I kept reminding myself why I started and what I was trying to build for my future. Because of that, this moment means much more to me than simply finishing a degree. It represents growth, resilience, and all of the moments where I had to keep going even when things were not easy. I feel proud, grateful, relieved, and emotional all at the same time. Graduating is a reminder to me that anything worth striving for is worth fighting for, and that the journey means more because of everything it took to get here.

It also makes me reflect on how much I have changed as a person during my time at the University. I am not leaving as the same person who first walked onto campus. I am leaving with more maturity, more perspective, more discipline, and a much stronger sense of purpose. There were lessons I learned in the classroom, but there were also many lessons I learned outside of it through leadership, public service, internships, volunteer work, and life itself. All of that shaped me in ways that feel very personal. It shaped the way I think, the way I carry myself, the way I respond to pressure, and the way I see my responsibilities to others. Looking back now, I can honestly say that this journey changed me in ways I did not fully understand while I was living through it.

This moment also means a lot to me because it represents more than an ending. It feels like the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another that I have worked very hard for. There is excitement in that, but there is also emotion in realizing how many life lessons, experiences, and sacrifices helped me get here. When I think about graduation, I do not just think about earning a degree. I think about everything behind it. I think about the pressure, the uncertainty, the setbacks, the quiet perseverance, and the moments where I had to choose to keep going. I think about the times I had to keep faith in myself even when things felt unclear. I think about the people who stayed in my corner, the responsibility I carried, and the future I kept trying to build, one step at a time.

That is why this moment feels so meaningful to me. It reminds me that growth is never easy, but it is always worth it. It reminds me that even when the process feels long and difficult, there is still hope and beauty in continuing to move forward. More than anything, it reminds me that this is something I truly earned, and that makes it even more emotional and special to me and my family. This moment means something not only to me, but also to the people who stood by me, believed in me, supported me, and watched me keep pushing, even when things were not easy. That is part of what makes this feel so much bigger than just one day or one milestone.

It is moments like this that remind me how important it is to slow down and truly savor what is right in front of you. I remember learning about Professor Laurie Santos’s work on well-being and the idea that people often spend so much of their lives chasing the next achievement, the next status, the next title, or the next milestone, believing that it will finally bring lasting happiness. What stayed with me most is the reminder that people adapt quickly, and if they are not careful, they move on before they ever fully appreciate what they already worked so hard to reach. That really resonates with me in this moment, because it would be easy to rush straight into thinking about what comes next without fully taking in what this moment actually means.

So for me, graduation is not just about the next step. It is also about being present enough to appreciate this one. It is about pausing long enough to feel the weight of the journey, the sacrifice behind it, and the meaning of finally reaching a moment I once only hoped for. It is about letting myself fully experience this instead of rushing past it. I think that matters, because people spend so much of life trying to get somewhere that they sometimes forget to feel what it means when they finally arrive. This moment deserves more than that. It deserves to be felt deeply, appreciated genuinely, and honestly remembered fully.

I also wanted to write this reflection because it feels meaningful to me, not to overcomplicate the answer, but to hopefully leave people with something thoughtful and encouraging to carry with them. The reason I say this is not to bore anyone. It is because I hope it leaves people with something to remember, something that is food for thought. I think it fits this question so well because graduation is not just about success. It is also about reflection, gratitude, and being honest about what really matters. In a world where people are always pushed to focus on the next thing, I think there is something powerful about stopping long enough to appreciate the present and recognize that the life you are building is made up of moments like this.

Since this is also May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, I felt it was important to add that perseverance does not mean pretending everything is always easy. Sometimes real strength is continuing to move forward while also being honest about what you are carrying. I think there is real power in reminding people that it is okay to struggle, it is okay to feel overwhelmed, and it is okay to keep going one day at a time. Sometimes the strongest thing a person can do is refuse to give up on themselves. Sometimes strength looks quiet. Sometimes it looks like simply getting through the day, holding on to hope, and refusing to let hard moments define who you are. I think that matters, and I think more people need to hear that.

To me, that is also part of what graduation represents. It is not just an achievement on paper. It is proof of endurance. It is proof that even when things felt heavy, uncertain, or mentally exhausting, you kept going, and that means something. It reminds all of us that success is not always conveyed in a loud demeanor. Sometimes it is built in silence, in consistency, in discipline, and in the decision to keep moving forward even when no one fully sees how difficult it feels. That is a lesson I will carry with me long after graduation.

In the end, the things that stay with us most are often not status or recognition, but the people who stood by us, the gratitude we carry, the lessons that shaped us, and the ability to truly be present for the moments that matter most. That is a major part of what this moment means to me. It is not only a celebration of finishing something. It is a reflection of everything that came before it and everything it took to arrive here. It is a reminder that there is meaning in the struggle, beauty in the growth, and value in slowing down enough to really feel the moment while you are in it.

After graduation, I plan to continue building experience in public safety, law enforcement, emergency management, and national security-related work while also continuing my graduate studies. My long-term goal is to serve in a role where I can make a real difference and contribute to something bigger than myself. I have a strong interest in the Connecticut State Police, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and other opportunities in law enforcement or public service because I care deeply about protecting communities, helping people, and being in roles where integrity, service, and responsibility truly matter.

In the longer term, I also hope to contribute in a federal capacity connected to national security and intelligence-related work. More than anything, I want a career rooted in purpose, teamwork, service, and leadership. I want to do work that matters and build a life around resilience, impact, and helping others. I want to be part of something where I can protect, serve, lead, and continue growing into the kind of person and professional I hope to become.

When I look back on my time at the University of New Haven, I feel grateful for a great deal. I am especially grateful to the professors, mentors, staff, and peers who believed in me, challenged me, and helped guide me. That support meant a lot to me and made a real difference in my life. I am also grateful for the opportunities I had to grow through internships, student recognized organizations, student leadership opportunities, academic challenges, and service experiences. Those experiences gave me the chance to apply what I was learning in meaningful ways and helped me become more confident in myself and my future.

I am also grateful for the friendships, the moments of growth, and the chance to be part of a community that pushed me to keep becoming better than I was yesterday. The University gave me a place where I could grow academically, professionally, and personally, and I will always be thankful for that.

A lot of the defining moments in my University of New Haven journey came from experiences that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and forced me to grow. My internships had a huge impact on me because they gave me direct exposure to public safety, law enforcement, risk management, and organizational leadership in real environments. Interning with the Connecticut State Police showed me how much discipline, preparation, and teamwork matter in law enforcement and operational settings. My DESPP Summer Intensive Program experience was especially meaningful because it exposed me to six major divisions, including the Connecticut State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Fire Prevention and Control, Police Officer Standards and Training, Division of Scientific Services, and Statewide Emergency Telecommunications. That experience helped me understand how many moving parts go into protecting communities and responding to crises.

My work at Securitas in its Global Security Operations Center also taught me a great deal about threat monitoring, resilience, situational awareness, and how private sector security connects to larger public safety goals. My internship at Ion Bank gave me another perspective by showing me how financial compliance, anti-money laundering work, and suspicious-activity monitoring all connect to broader public safety and security efforts.

These experiences helped shape who I am because they showed me that service can take many forms, but at the center of all of it is responsibility, attention to detail, and care for others. They also reinforced something I strongly believe, which is that anything worth having is worth fighting for, and growth only happens when you are willing to keep climbing.

I tried to stay involved in as many meaningful ways as I could because I did not want to just go through the University. I wanted to make the most of my time here and fully invest in the experience. I became involved through student organizations, leadership positions, service work, campus jobs, and internships that connected directly to my goals. I served as a delegate in Model United Nations, representing Sierra Leone, where I earned Outstanding Delegation and Position Paper awards. I was involved in the American Criminal Justice Association as co-committee head for Professional Development and Alumni Relations, and I also served as a primary representative in the Undergraduate Student Government Association. I also supported outreach and event planning through the Mayor’s Advisory Committee in West Haven.

On campus, I worked with the Campus Food Pantry and Career Closet, which was especially meaningful to me because it allowed me to help support students in a direct and personal way. Each of these experiences taught me something different about service, leadership, communication, and responsibility. I always felt that if I was going to be here, I should give my full effort and be part of something bigger than just myself.

Some of my favorite memories came from the people I met, the experiences I had, and the moments that made me realize how much I had grown over time. I will always value the friendships I built, the mentors who stayed in my corner, and the opportunities that made me feel like all of the hard work was leading somewhere meaningful. A lot of my favorite memories also came from internships, student leadership, service work, and moments where I was able to challenge myself and see that I was capable of more than I had originally thought.

Model United Nations was one of those experiences that stands out to me because it pushed me intellectually, helped me grow in confidence, and gave me the chance to work closely with others in a meaningful way. My time serving on campus and in the community also gave me memories that I will carry for a long time because they reminded me that service is not abstract. It is personal. It is built on the small things and the willingness to show up for people when it matters.

The people who had the biggest impact on me during my time at the University of New Haven were Dr. Matthew Schmidt, Dr. Robert Sanders, Dr. Chris Haynes, and University Librarian Joseph Scollo, who is also the co-director of Model United Nations, along with many others I was fortunate enough to meet along the way. Each of them impacted me in a different but very meaningful way. They did much more than teach me. They challenged me, believed in me, supported me, and helped shape the way I think about myself, my future, and my purpose.

Dr. Schmidt had a major impact on me through his mentorship, his belief in my potential, and the way he encouraged me to think bigger about my future. He helped me take myself more seriously and reminded me that I was capable of more than I sometimes believed. Dr. Robert Sanders helped shape the way I think about leadership, ethics, discipline, and responsibility. Dr. Chris Haynes left a lasting impact on me through his mentorship, guidance, and the way he invested in my growth both academically and personally. Mr. Scollo, through Model United Nations and beyond, challenged me intellectually and encouraged me to grow in confidence, communication, and professionalism. These are the kinds of people who leave a real mark on your life. Their guidance stayed with me during some of the most important moments of my university journey, and I know I would not be the same person without their support.

My future career goals are centered around public service, law enforcement, emergency management, and national security. I am passionate about safeguarding communities and fostering resilience, and I want to continue building a career where I can do that in a meaningful way. My experiences in public safety, risk management, and leadership have only deepened that commitment. In the short term, I want to continue building professional experience and serving in roles that allow me to grow while directly contributing to public safety and community protection. I have a strong interest in the Connecticut State Police, DESPP, and other law enforcement or public service roles where I can help protect others, respond to emergencies, and contribute to mission-driven work.

In the longer term, I also hope to contribute in a federal capacity connected to national security and intelligence-related work. Across all of these interests, the common thread is service. I want my career to be built around purpose, discipline, empathy, and responsibility. I want to be in roles where I can lead, respond, protect, and make a real difference for others.

My biggest advice would be to never give up on yourself. Even when things feel hard, uncertain, or overwhelming, keep going. Take the leap. Take the risk. Put yourself out there. Some of the best growth in life happens when you step outside of what feels comfortable. I would also say to be intentional with your time and your future. Make what you are doing important, because you are exchanging your day for it. Do not focus too much on comparing yourself to everyone else. Focus on becoming better than you were yesterday. If you stay grounded in purpose, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself, you will surprise yourself with how far you can go.