Published Wednesday, September 11th, 2024
Part of the 2024-25 student spotlight series, featuring Isabelle Saenz of Waverly, Neb.
Say hello to Wayne State senior Isabelle Saenz of Waverly. The Human Services major and co-captain of the Aristocat dance team is this week’s featured student in the Student Spotlight series.
While Saenz and the Aristocats are anxious to get back to Florida in January 2025 for a national competition, she says they’re currently more focused on a community outreach project at home. On Saturday night (Sept. 14), the Aristocats will host several area K-6 students who will perform during halftime of the Wildcat football game. It’s an annual event for the dance team.
“Being able to give something back to the community is always very special for us,” said Saenz. “Seeing the smiles on those little faces is definitely one of our highlights each year and knowing that you’ve had a positive impact on a child is an incredible feeling.”
However, the Universal Dance Association’s National Dance Competition still looms large on the horizon.
“We got our feet wet last year, which was our first time at the event,” said Saenz. “We finished thirteenth out of 22 teams, but this year we’ll know what to expect and we can be better prepared.”
One thing that Saenz couldn’t prepare for was the unexpected death of her grandfather during her freshman year. She began her college career majoring in Elementary Education, but her grandfather’s sudden passing would have a tremendous impact on her future.
“Family is extremely important to me, and my grandfather’s death hit me very hard; so hard, in fact, that I decided to enter counseling,” said Saenz. “Thanks to those counseling sessions, I came out on the other side with more strength and understanding. I knew then that I wanted to be on the other side of the phone call and help others who were encountering obstacles and struggles in their lives.”
“To this day, I have no regrets about changing majors,” continued Saenz. “The Wayne State community and my instructors were very supportive, and they helped me every step of the way. I don’t know if I would have received the same support anywhere else. Wayne State may be small, but Wayne State is also very mighty.”
Saenz will graduate in May 2025, and she intends to pursue a career in juvenile counseling for at-risk youth.