Claire Carriere describes UL Lafayette as the perfect size.
“UL Lafayette was always big enough to meet new people and learn from them every semester, but small enough to make you feel at home no matter where you went on campus,” she said.
Part of the at-home feeling she got was from the professors in the strategic communications program, where she pursued a concentration in organizational communication.
“I loved how supportive the professors in my program were,” she said. “They truly made us feel supported every step of the way. I loved how each class promoted a sense of open-mindedness and taught us about facing adversity.
"I feel my program assisted me in learning about not just a future job field, but skills to utilize in relationships and friendships as well.”
Claire also credits her instructors and professors for many of the important lessons she gained in the program.
“The skills I obtained through these courses have been critical not just for my future profession, but in my everyday life,” she said. “They challenged you to recognize the differences in people and communication styles to make the most of any given situation, and truly utilize empathy skills to better the environment around you.”
While attending UL Lafayette, Claire was an active member of organizations across campus. She was a reactivation leader and president of the UL Beacon Club. She won a Volunteer of the Year award from Lafayette Mayor-President’s Awareness Committee for Citizens with Disabilities for her work with this club.
She was also a mentor with the UL LIFE Program, both focusing on advocation and inclusion of people who are differently abled.
“These students were my favorite part about UL Lafayette as a whole, and have been my absolute best friends,” she said about her time with the UL LIFE Program.
She was also part of the Student Orientation Staff and SOUL Camp. In these programs, she said she welcomed freshmen and helped them “recognize their opportunities and who they want to become in their time at UL Lafayette.”
Claire was part of the Homecoming Court in 2018 and was named Outstanding Graduate for the College of Liberal Arts in 2019.
“I am passionate about helping people and leaving things better than I once found them,” she said. “In this major, I have learned various valuable skills from interacting with others, to improving organizations and non-profits through my work ethic.
“I plan to continue to use these skills as I pursue a master’s degree in mental health counseling and have dreams of opening my own practice one day to specifically assist the differently-abled community and their caretakers and loved ones,” she said.
