In a few days, I will walk across the stage and graduate from Palo Alto University (PAU).
Like many graduates, I could point to the knowledge I gained, the courses I completed, and the skills I developed. Those things matter. They are part of what this degree represents. But as I reflect on the past three years, I realize that PAU has given me three gifts that extend far beyond a diploma.
The First Gift: Community
When I started this program, I expected to be challenged academically and professionally. What I did not expect was to find such a strong sense of belonging.
That sense of community was first shaped by the generosity of our professors. They have been accessible, supportive, and invested in student success. More than once, all it took was an email to schedule a conversation, ask a question, or seek guidance.
Their openness also influenced how we, as students, related to one another. Within my cohort and beyond, I found people who understood the challenges of becoming a counselor. We celebrated one another’s successes, supported each other through difficult moments, and shared experiences that only fellow counseling students can truly understand.
Somewhere along the way, I realized that I had found something I had been searching for throughout much of my professional life: my people.
The culture that PAU creates is one where connection matters. Growth happens through coursework and relationships, and both have shaped my experience in meaningful ways.
The Second Gift: Advocacy
Like any program, not everything was perfect. There were times when issues needed to be addressed. Sometimes those concerns came from me as an individual. Other times, they came from our cohort collectively.
Whenever issues were raised, the university listened. Conversations took place. Questions were answered. Feedback was considered. Of course, not every decision aligned with what I had hoped for, but I felt heard and respected. As a former higher education administrator, I can appreciate PAU’s effort to embrace a continuous improvement mindset. I know how hard that can be.
As counselors, advocacy is one of our professional responsibilities. We advocate for clients, communities, and ourselves. Advocacy, however, is a skill that must be learned and practiced like any other. PAU gave me opportunities to develop that skill, find my voice, and participate in difficult conversations while trusting that my perspective deserved to be heard.
The Third Gift: Confidence
I entered this profession in midlife after spending years building a career in another field. Making a transition at this stage of life is intimidating. Counseling is also a profession that carries tremendous responsibility. People’s stories, struggles, and hopes are not things to take lightly.
The more I learned about the profession, the more I appreciated its complexity. As my understanding grew, so did my awareness of how much there was to learn. With that understanding came moments of self-doubt. There were many times when I wondered whether I had made the right career transition.
PAU provided a combination of knowledge, support, mentorship, and practical experience that allowed my confidence to grow over time.
That confidence was strengthened by professors who made themselves available when guidance was needed. It was strengthened by supervisors who challenged me to improve. It was strengthened by classmates who reminded me that we were all learning together.
By the end of this week, I will leave this program with confidence in the therapist I am becoming. I have been given the tools and foundation to continue growing into the clinician I aspire to be.
More Than a Diploma
The diploma I will receive in a few days is a symbol of everything I have accomplished over the past three years. I will frame it and hang it in my office.
But the guidance and sense of connection I found along the way cannot be framed. They are woven into who I am and who I am becoming. They are part of me.
For that reason, if I had to start all over again, I would choose PAU without hesitation.
Thank you, PAU.
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I will see you next week.
Roque Neto 