During her senior year of high school,Taryn Duncantraveled toDurhamfrom her hometown of Windsor, Conn.,with her parents to audition for the music education programat UNH. She vividly remembers the walk from the Paul Creative Arts Center to Holloway Commons, believing thisvast, beautifulstretch of campus wasthe entire length of campus.Little did she know thatthe rest of campus, with its numerous opportunities, would reveal itselftoheras she embarked upon her journey to becoming a Wildcat. As acurrentUNH senior, Taryn looks back and realizes thatswath ofcampus was a fraction of what UNH had to offer – and she was amazed at the future opportunities the institution would bring her.Upon leaving Durhamthat dayto begin the drive back to Connecticut, Taryn had the realization that she now had two homes and one of them was at UNH.
Taryn’s journey began before she had evenstartedtaking classes as a first-year student. Taryn was anintegral member of the CONNECT program at UNH, a program whose goal is to supportunderrepresentedstudents as they complete their undergraduate degree through providing academicassistance, social programming, and collaborations with key UNH resources. Thispre-arrival program allowedTaryn the opportunity to build relationships with faculty, staff, and students whowould ultimately become some of the most influential peoplein her life.Taryn leaves a legacy in the CONNECT program as a participant and a leader. Through this leadership experience, Taryn will continue to leave a legacy of inclusion, dedication, and best practices for marginalized students.
During her first year, Taryn was a participant in the Martin Luther King Jr. Summit, now known as the Audre Lorde Summit. This experienceledTaryn to further develop her passion for social justice, along with inclusion and equity.By participating in this summit, Taryn was able to develop her own perceptions about listening and engaging. Taryn described how the summit changed the way she became a listener.She stated that prior to the summit, when engaging with someone, she may not have always been fully listening to learn.The MLK Summit taught her to be vulnerable and open to new ideas. She emphasizedthat“when you listen, you can learn so much more than talking.”
As a Women and Gender Studies major, Taryn has led many initiatives regarding social justice. Her focus on social liberation and intersectionality has allowed Taryn to take advantage of opportunities such as becoming a Treat Fellow, ateacher’sassistantin the Women and Gender Studies department for Joelle Ryan, and a social advocateofthe Black Student Union.Early on,Tarynidentifiedthe Beauregard Center, formerly known as the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs,as a safe place she could turn to after leaving spaces on campus where no one shared her same experiences as a woman of color.Conversations occurringwithin the walls of the Beauregard Center surrounding fat liberation,race, class, gender equality, and morehavehelpedTaryn further understand ways she can make a difference at her institution of learning.She has noted that the friendships and relationships she has created allow her to feel confident in how her generation will create change at UNH and in the world. Taryn feels as though her generation is onitsway to creating a more equitable society.
Taryn shares that her biggest dream and goal would be to work in Human Resources. She sees a vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion(DEI)through an opportunity to work with a company, school, or business. With the ability to be a part of a marketing team, she believes that a role in Human Resources will allow her to recruit a diverse pool of employees. Additionally, she feels that her unique background as a Women and Gender Studies major will allow her to create a safe space for marginalized identities throughherfuture role as a human resources specialist.
Taryn’s advice to new Wildcats? Anything you want to do you can do. If you are interested in something, put yourself out there. College happens in the blink of an eye and new Wildcats should always focus on doing the best they can and taking care of themselves, while still focusing on thehighgoals they havesetfor themselves. Taryn urges new students to find the balance between self-care, self-motivation, and self-determination. Learning that balance is important and that is how new students can soak in their college experience. College only happens once, so,instead of taking it for granted,take it in.
Whenasked to describe her experience as a UNH student, Tarynused the word blessed. “I am blessed to be a Wildcat. I have connections on campus that will last a lifetime.” Taryn will leave an impact on the UNH community – one of hope, curiosity, and open mindedness.Her journey at the 鶹app was one of passion,particularlypassion to make a difference. She hopes thatthestudentsthat follow in her pathwill continue to make a change at the university. Her legacy of wanting UNH to improve willcontinue oneven when Taryn has shifted the tassel on her cap.
