Fabian Osorio / Staff Writer
Nayeli Lomeli was selected by Telemundo to be one of the eight Class of 2020 graduates whose virtual graduation was celebrated. She also participated in the FIU’s first-ever virtual commencement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was held on May 8.
Lomeli, a first-generation grad and Dreamer, was contacted through Instagram by the Telemundo producer and reporter Irasema Torres to be featured as part of the Class of 2020 graduation.
“Celebrating this accomplishment on national television was never part of my plan,” Lomeli said. “So, when I was faced with the opportunity, there was no way I could turn it down. Being on national television is also something that doesn’t happen every day.”
Lomeli, who studied Communication and Broadcast Media with a minor in Social Media and E-Marketing Analytics, had no words to describe how special she felt to be part of such a big celebration.
“The experience was amazing! Telemundo helped me celebrate and made sure this moment in my life was as special and important as it could be,” she said. “They really outdid themselves in every aspect. Having a commencement speech from Gina Rodriguez is something I can’t describe with words.”
The American actress Gina Rodriguez was proud to be the virtual godmother of the selected Class 2020 graduates. Also, artists such as Luis Fonsi, Cristian Nodal, Cardi B, Matthew McConaughey as well as the FIU President Rosenberg had a message for them.
“I admire Gina Rodriguez so much. She is such a huge inspiration for me,” Lomeli said. “So, having her speak to us was definitely something unbelievable, and I will treasure it forever. It was a special moment.”
Lomeli started her studies at FIU in the fall of 2016. She never thought that her ceremony would be virtual and on TV. Understandably, her first reaction was not very positive, when she found out that the FIU spring ceremony would be online.
“I’m not going to lie. In the beginning, I was sort of bummed because I obviously wasn’t going to be able to walk across the stage and celebrate like in a traditional graduation,” she said. “Walking across the stage was something I dreamed about since the start of my freshman year, and it sucked that I wouldn’t be able to do so.”
In spite of her disappointment, she chose to attend the graduation ceremony during the pandemic instead of waiting for the next semester.
“I wanted to attend the virtual graduation during the pandemic because it was a different experience, and I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment at the end of my last semester, when my graduation was originally supposed to take place,” she said.
She realized that her celebration was going to be different. She thought that it could be a good story to tell her children and grandchildren in the future. She also thought that it was an opportunity to celebrate with her family and friends around the United States.
“My family knew I wanted to walk on the stage, but they made me feel special either way, regardless if I walked on the stage or not,” Lomeli said. “They made sure I knew how proud they were of me and all of my accomplishments, and I am eternally grateful for that.”
Before the virtual ceremony, FIU asked graduates to submit a message and picture or video to be used during the commencement. FIU used a digital platform to host the virtual ceremony for each college and school celebrating more than 6,000 graduates.
The experience of graduating online was remarkable for Lomeli, and it is something she would not trade.
“The moment I heard my name called out in the ceremony was so exciting. What I loved the most was being able to share it so closely with my family and friends,” Lomeli said.
“In a traditional graduation the number of family and friends who can attend per student is limited to the number of tickets, but that day I was able to scream and celebrate with so many of the most important people in my life.”
Lomeli has unforgettable memories and experiences from her studies at FIU. The most memorable experience for her was clear when she was chosen to be the executive producer of the newscast My Peer.
“I had the opportunity to actually produce in the Broadcast and Digital Newscast Production course. I was also able to be the weather anchor,” she said. “From this experience, I developed a love for producing, and now it is one of the positions I am pursuing. It is an experience I treasure, and I will always remember.”
After Lomeli graduated, she started preparing for the next endeavors in her life.
“Right now, the goal is to find a job where I can do what I love the most, tell stories. I am looking for positions at a broadcast company, as a producer or reporter,” she said. “My biggest goal is to be a reliable source of information for my community, so that’s my drive wherever I am headed.”
About Post Author
