Graduate Reflects on Accomplishments, Experiencing a Sense of Belonging at UNewHaven

Sheraud Wilder ’26 is graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology, and a minor in Criminal Justice.

It feels unreal. I always think ahead wondering what the next five years of my life is going to be, what will I look like, what will it feel like, and what’s after that. Now that I’m here, I haven’t been able to fully immerse myself in the feeling. I’m going to be thinking about assignments that I have coming up all throughout summer for my graduate program. The feeling of being finished with undergrad feels like I can take a deep breath. All I can think about is walking across the stage and how it’s going to feel. Bittersweet, definitely. I am going to miss my time here.

After graduation, I plan on returning to the University to pursue my master’s in industrial/organizational psychology.

God, support, and blessings, I’m appreciative of the community that we cultivated and changed through our time at the university. Before coming here, there weren’t many places where I felt a sense of belonging. The person next to you probably doesn’t either. Take initiative. I am grateful for the ability to have some of the experiences and support that I do have and the people in my life who want to see me succeed.

• Joining Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
• Working at LEAP (Leadership Education & Athletics in Partnership)
• Joining the Black Student Union

My freshman year I joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Not only has it provided me with resources, support and connections, but it developed me and helped mold my college experience, giving me the outreach to become a positive figure in my community. Knowing I can help create change is very empowering. My fraternity has given me all the tools to make sure I am a successful individual when I leave college, making me think about not just who I am, but the person and man that I am trying to be. I am forever grateful for that.

My freshman year I also joined the Black Student Union. This relationship has given me the platform to help change the narrative. Understanding your capabilities and what it means being a black student at a PWI (predominantly white institution) forces you to change the narrative to help enlighten and raise the awareness of individuals. Wanting a sense of belonging in communities that you stand out from is uncomfortable. Creating them may be harder, but it helps the legacy of people who come after you.

I became a F.I.R.S.T mentor and worked with incoming freshmen, which helped me better understand my passion for development and realizing just how much experiences such as F.I.R.S.T could be in the social experience that freshmen have. The opportunity to be among the first people that incoming first-year students see when they arrive, and then having the power to make a direct impact on their lives, is something I cherish, especially seeing the growth that my mentees have had since first meeting them.

My commitment to my community has aided in my ability to outreach and network with so many individuals on campus. This put my name in rooms I’d never thought of, giving me overwhelming support.

I will never forget all the time I spent and the memories that I have working with the kids at LEAP. Those kids helped me find my passion in child & adolescent development. There’s no better feeling than being able to serve and help your community and giving back. When I think about why I do this, I think about what I can do to make things better for people. I love those memories the most, and I am thankful for the impact those children made on my life.

Another memory is being honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship by the University. It caught me by surprise. I don’t think about the stuff I do. I just do, so it makes me want to work harder and keep striving to become better.

Additionally, being honored with the Distinguished Human Service Award by the University is something I will never forget. This was a testament to the time and effort that I have put in for the past 4 years. Working my way to the top, and bringing along the people who believed in me to get there, was a moment of immense gratitude for the time I spent here.

My internship class had the biggest impact on me. During my internship with New Haven Extension, I had the pleasure of working with inner-city New Haven children where we provided social and emotional support. Understanding their backgrounds and learning the stories of individuals who need that extra support, attention, even love, fuels my desire to give back, and puts things into perspective for me.

I plan on working in the child & adolescent development field, with the goal of being able to develop the growth of future leaders, and working to equip minorities with the opportunities to be successful.

Create a life worth living and legacy worth leaving.