Student Spotlight: Dalilah Valdez

Photo Credit: Dalilah Valdez holding a sign reading,
Fri, 02/03/2023 - 11:27

Majors: Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Criminology
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

College is much more than your major, says Dalilah.

“People always hear ‘College is going to be the best time of your life!’ And although people’s passions might ignite in the classroom, I don’t think that’s always because of what happens in class.”

While there are lots of great reasons for getting involved on campus, Dalilah views her involvement in RSOs as a way to build a network that supports her and makes her feel part of a community — and she invites others to do the same.

“When I first came to UNL, I felt a little isolated not hearing anyone besides my roommate speak Spanish,”

Dalilah says. “Being a part of RSOs on campus — especially those that are culturally based — has given me a space and community to use my voice around and be passionate about inclusivity.”

It was an encouraging friend that first got Dalilah to the student union her freshman year to check out the MASA (Mexican American Student Association) booth. It didn’t take long, however, for Dalilah to realize this was where she belonged.

“In my first meeting I was like, ‘Before I graduate, I’m going to be president. This is just so cool.’”

Dalilah did, in fact, become president of MASA. She has also been heavily involved in the Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, which, once again, took a friend to coax her into trying out.

“I had a friend — again — who was like, ‘Just come check it out with me,’”

Dalilah recalls. “The people in Delta Xi Nu described their mission at the university to me and how they wanted to make changes around inclusivity on campus. I really admired that.”

Like all RSOs, Dalilah’s involvements in MASA and Delta Xi Nu have spanned everything from social gatherings with tons of food to philanthropies and volunteer work. Mainly, though, Dalilah urges her fellow Huskers to get involved for the friends and memories they'll make.

“A lot of our memories don’t come from the classroom: they come from the people we meet and the experiences and memories we’ll have.”