The path to success is not linear, instead it is winding, uncertain, and in many cases confusing. However, as long as you continue moving forward, stay curious, and seek opportunities, success will find you.

Two students, Adam Cook & Bronwyn Laherty, presenting at the Honors Student Showcase, are proof of this message as their determination and drive continue to fuel their diverse and unique passions.

Adam Cook: 

Adam Cook is a senior double majoring in Cultures and International Studies; however, the path to choosing this degree was an unknown journey. Initially, when arriving at the U, he tried several different majors like business and political science but ultimately found his passion with learning about languages and cultures.

While at the U, Adam sought out experiences. His motto was, “If you do not ask, you will never know.” 

He studied and learned eight different languages (Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, English, Italian, and Russian), visited nine countries (Russia, Ukraine, Italy, the UK, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China), and attended the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights experience.

Through each of these experiences, he was able to immerse himself in a variety of different cultures, customs, and pathways that he could explore within his career. “My future is uncertain, but I have many different careers that I can pursue after college. I could be an interpreter, professor, or an academic,” said Adam.

Adam joined the Honors College to understand the process of writing a thesis and have more credibility when entering the field. He wrote his thesis about the similarities between the Russian Constitution and the United States Constitution, where, in spite of their similarities, the United States created a system of checks and balances that have operated successfully. 

With this complex topic, the main takeaway that Adam hopes others will have is that “No democracy is perfect, but some are better than others.”

Bronwyn Laherty: 

Bronwyn Laherty is a senior pursuing a degree in finance and media arts, and despite the unexpected combination of the two fields of study, Bronwyn is able to utilize both within her future career path as an aspiring director of documentaries and film creation. 

“One surprising thing that I learned is how much they go together. Having a finance background elevates the types of things I could do in my field,” said Bronwyn. 

One of the unique aspects of Bronwyn’s degree is the flexibility that she has to create and complete her thesis. Unlike the traditional 20-to-200-page thesis paper, she has the opportunity to direct a short film that showcases all of the different techniques and skills she has learned.

For her thesis, she chose to produce a documentary about one of her favorite off-campus jobs as a Zamboni driver. She adores the team she works with, and it is a small corner of her world that she wants to share.

“I will never run out of stories to tell because everyone has a story, and everyone has an impact,” said Bronwyn. 

Over the last year, Bronwyn has been documenting her team, where she has showcased the positive effect they are able to make not only at the ice rink but as co-workers and friends.

Visit the Honors Student Showcase on April 16th from 4-7 PM at Kahlert Village to learn more about Adam & Bronwyn’s work! 

Aspen Delis | Journalism Intern, University of Utah Honors College