Making Moments Matter: Weisler Alumni (Pt. III) —Beyond Survival: Finding Voice and Purpose as a Student in Higher Education (reflection by Dieunise Pacius)

🎧 Episodic Synopsis In this powerful alumni spotlight episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler reconnects with a former student, Dieunise, for an unfiltered conversation about what it truly means to be a student in today’s education system. From K–12 classrooms to college lecture halls, Dieunise reflects on how education has shifted from learning to survival—and why that shift is failing so many students.As a film and video student navigating an underfunded arts pathway, Dieunise shares the stark contrast between institutional support for STEM students and the isolation experienced by students in the humanities. She speaks candidly about being labeled “lazy” for learning differently, the emotional cost of rigid systems, and the resilience required to carve out one’s own path.This episode challenges educators, policymakers, and listeners alike to ask a critical question: Who is education really working for? And more importantly—who is being left out of the room when decisions are made?