Before the Finish Line

With families gathered, cameras ready, and applause filling the room, 60 students at the University of Houston-Clear Lake stepped forward to receive a symbol tied to years of work and persistence.

At the Spring '26 Ring Ceremony, the focus was not on finishing. It was on knowing they will.

For Annabelle Lozano, a computer science major graduating this May, that realization came just days before the ceremony.

"After my senior project presentation, I think I could finally breathe," she said. "That's when it actually hit me that I'm at the end."

That shift from uncertainty to clarity showed up in different ways across the students recognized that evening. University leaders described the ring as a reflection of that journey. Vice President for University Advancement Joe Staley noted that it represents perseverance, growth, and commitment, while connecting recipients to a network of more than 84,000 UHCL alumni.

For students, the meaning is personal.

Esther Herrera, Director of Organizational Development and Engagement at UHCL, who will graduate with a Doctor of Educational began her program with doubt.

"There was fear of the unknown," she said. "I didn't know if I had what it would take."

The turning point came when she received her acceptance.

"I remember thinking, 'What have you done?' And then realizing it was time."

Now, receiving her ring reflects something more certain.

"It means that I proved to myself that I could do this," she said. "That I was worthy, that I was equipped, and that I just needed to believe in it."

Each ring carries a different story. For Brenda Jimenez, an accounting and finance major graduating this spring, the challenge was balancing full-time work, full-time classes, and raising two children.

"There were times I didn't think I was going to make it," she said. "It was very complicated."

After stepping away from college for several years, returning to finish her degree was not guaranteed.

"This was always a dream of mine," she said. "So this ring means that I never gave up."

For Tabitha Hernandez, a future middle school social studies teacher, the path included caregiving, loss, and recovery. After spending 15 years caring for her mother, she returned to school following her mother's passing.

"I didn't know what I was going to do," she said. "But I found my way into teaching."

Even then, doubt remained constant.

"All the time. Every day."

Two years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. Now nearing remission, this moment carries added weight.

"This is my goal," she said. "That I finished, that I'm healthy. And I'm going to keep going. I'm not done yet."

For some students, the journey was about finding the right path. Samara Lonngi, a studio arts major with a minor in museum studies, began in a different field before realizing where she belonged.

"I was originally a STEM major going for marine biology," she said. "But I realized my calling was really for the arts."

Now, as she approaches graduation, the ring serves as a steady reminder.

"It's like a milestone setter," she said. "You're almost there."

Not every journey followed the same path, but each led here. Carson West, a general business major graduating later this year, said the reality of finishing came into focus recently.

"Halfway through this semester, it hit me," he said. "I thought, 'This is creeping up on me already.'"

Like many students, he began college during the pandemic and had to adjust before finding his footing.

"College is tough," he said. "You just have to keep going."

For Lozano, the experience was shaped by opportunity. During her time at UHCL, she completed internships with Boeing and KBR at Johnson Space Center and will continue her education in electrical engineering after graduation.

"The opportunities UHCL has provided me have been amazing," she said. "I'm excited to represent UHCL."

The ceremony reflected a wide range of student experiences. In remarks during the event, UHCL Alumni Association Board Chair Juana Rodriguez spoke to the journeys represented in the room, from single parents and caregivers to full-time employees and first-generation students.

"Your ring is a symbol of pride," she said. "It is a reminder that you are capable of achieving what you set your mind to."

That sense of support extended beyond the stage.

"It's a great accomplishment," said Gilbert Torres, Lozano's boyfriend and a UHCL alumnus. "A lot of work went into this. It's amazing to see it all come together."

In the weeks and months ahead, these students will cross the commencement stage and complete their degrees. For those who participated in the ring ceremony, something has already shifted.

The ring marks a point where doubt begins to fade and confidence takes hold. The finish line is no longer distant. It is within reach.

Before the diploma is handed over and before the final walk across the stage, there is this moment.

The moment it becomes real.