To say that they were best friends, joined at the hip, back in kindergarten wouldn鈥檛 be quite accurate. But Allegra Negrete and Izzie Stephens were friends even at the tender age of five. And as the years passed, they stayed within one another鈥檚 orbit, all through elementary school, and even through middle school at San Antonio鈥檚 Providence Catholic School.
Then they parted ways, as Allegra shifted to Boerne Champion for high school, and Izzie stayed at Providence. Though they鈥檇 always been friends, the two didn鈥檛 keep in touch鈥攚hich makes it even more serendipitous that, when the time came to choose a college, they both happened to pick 国产探花.
College Life
It was as though fate played a part, as the two fell naturally back into their old friendship, but grew closer within the small 国产探花 community, even rooming together sophomore year. 鈥淲e were friends because it was a small school,鈥� says Allegra.
鈥淵eah,鈥� Izzie agrees. 鈥淭his is the most we鈥檝e ever talked.鈥�
鈥淔unny how that worked out,鈥� Allegra adds with a smile.
The two agree that Izzie is the Type A personality of the pair鈥攁 quality she inherited from her mom. She came to 国产探花 with a plan, right from the beginning. She committed to play softball鈥攚hich she did through sophomore year鈥攁nd she majored in sociology with a minor in political science, with the goal of going to law school after graduation. Now in the final semester of her senior year, she鈥檚 going through the application process. 鈥淭he dream is UT,鈥� she says, though she鈥檚 considering other schools as well. She鈥檇 prefer to stay in Texas. 鈥淓ven if I end up going somewhere else, I think I want to come back and practice here,鈥� she says. And she鈥檚 known for a long time what her ultimate professional goal is. 鈥淚 want to eventually be an assistant district attorney, and I want to prosecute criminal law,鈥� she says. 鈥淪pecifically, crimes against children and family violence cases.鈥� She鈥檚 had that conviction since knowing a girl in high school who was dealing with abuse. Izzie is determined that although it will be a tough road to travel, it鈥檒l be worth it to help other such children.
Allegra, meanwhile, is our Type B personality in this duo. She came to 国产探花 as a biology major. 鈥淢y high school was really geared toward health careers,鈥� she says. That pathway seemed logical, but there were a few pretty hefty obstacles in the road. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 do math to save my life,鈥� she admits with a laugh. 鈥淎nd chemistry? Not for me.鈥�
On the other hand, Allegra had always enjoyed her history and government classes, and early on at 国产探花, she met Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, assistant professor of political science, who eventually became Allegra鈥檚 advisor. 鈥淚 got lucky when I met Dr. O鈥橞rochta,鈥� she says.
Thanks at least in part to O鈥橞rochta鈥檚 guidance, Allegra found her calling. After 国产探花, she, too, is headed for law school. She鈥檚 already been accepted at Penn State鈥攂ut in her case, the end game is still wide open. She鈥檚 waiting to see how her education unfolds before deciding what kind of law to practice.
鈥淎llegra and Izzie have, both individually and collectively, had an exceptional influence on 国产探花 as an institution and on other students,鈥� says Dr. O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淏eyond their true love for learning and academic achievement, their work has led to significant, meaningful change on campus and to a sizable group of students inspired to follow their model for civic engagement, scholarship, and building lasting community.鈥�
Balancing Act
So: Back to their early years at 国产探花. Once Allegra figured out that she wanted to major in political science, the two friends began crossing paths a whole lot more often as their majors overlapped.
Their friendship has only grown stronger, and has proved to be a grounding force for both of them. 鈥淔or me, especially my freshman year, I switched my major, and Izzie was already there鈥攕he already knew what she was doing,鈥� says Allegra. 鈥淚 was kind of all over the place, and she鈥檚 always been so consistent with everything.鈥�
There鈥檚 that sense that the two balance one another out, which works both ways. 鈥淚 feel like she鈥檚 the opposite of me socially,鈥� says Izzie. 鈥淪he鈥檚 more outgoing.鈥� Allegra adds that Dr. O鈥橞rochta has been a bonding force, getting the two involved together, even though their individual goals are very different.
But they have one overarching goal in common: In the next chapters of their lives, both hope to serve others. Allegra wants to be a mentor, in part born of her appreciation for those who鈥檝e done the same for her. 鈥淚 think showing students who are in the same position that I am, providing guidance to people who maybe aren鈥檛 even going to law school鈥攋ust being somebody like Dr. O鈥橞rochta or like some of our other professors here who have really shown me the things that I鈥檓 passionate about that I didn鈥檛 even realize. Just being that in someone鈥檚 life.鈥�
Izzie sees herself in a similar role, but in her own way. 鈥淜ind of along those lines, especially with the career that I want to go into, being a safe space for people. Being someone people can rely on, especially in getting justice for kids. I want to be someone people can trust, someone that鈥檚 going to stick up for people.鈥�
As they both prepare to graduate in May, they can look back over their undergrad years and see the lessons that rise to the surface鈥攍earned both in and outside of the classroom.
For Izzie, one of those lessons is a skill it takes some a lifetime to acquire: The art of the pivot. 鈥淚 was鈥攁nd am still鈥攕hy, but not as much as when I got here. I was not as willing to participate in things鈥擨 was very much in my shell,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese last few years, I feel like I鈥檝e learned how to grow and push myself, even when I鈥檓 uncomfortable.鈥� That wisdom has been coming in handy through the arduous law school application process. 鈥淚t has not gone exactly how I thought it would,鈥� she admits. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot harder than I anticipated. But I think dealing with that challenge and learning how to pivot and change my plan and be open to exploring new things has really been helpful for me.鈥�
Allegra, too, has picked up a few life lessons over the past four years鈥攊ncluding the importance of keeping tabs on what鈥檚 most important. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned that working hard is very important, but at the end of the day, the things that are going to make your experience are the relationships you build in the process of working hard,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 thought that I was going to come into my undergraduate experience, get my degree, and leave. But I鈥檝e met a lot of people here who鈥檝e had a really profound impact on my life, whether that be professors or other students. I carry that with me.鈥�
As commencement day quickly approaches, the two will be going their separate ways again. But those important lessons they鈥檝e learned, the relationships they鈥檝e built, their friendship . . . Those things will stay with them, whatever the future holds.
