How Being Grounded Helped Commencement Student Speaker Ardrienne Bradberry Find Purpose

By Hayden Bergman

 

Born in Beaumont but raised in Houston, Ardrienne Bradberry graduated from Westbury High School and enrolled at UHD in 1992. That is when, quite literally, her life story took flight, though it can be said that there was turbulence along the way. After one semester here, Bradberry left to become a flight attendant and traveled the world before an injury forced her into early retirement. She felt lost, and after a stop at seminary school and several personal and financial hardships, she decided to reenroll at UHD.

Going back to school was a struggle at first. “I didn’t really have any confidence,” says Bradberry. “I was 48 years old, and I never saw myself as a college student. I didn’t think I had what it took.” Two weeks into her studies, she wanted to quit. After a tear-filled conversation with a friend, she decided to persevere, despite the difficulties presented by the pandemic and her being a non-traditional student.

Having pushed through those turbulent times, Bradberry soared. She made the Dean’s List several times, all while working on weekends and maintaining membership and leadership roles in several campus and national organizations, including the National Association of Social Work.

And, thanks to her hard work and, according to her, all the Social Work program faculty and staff, Bradberry is leaving UHD with the kinds of professional competencies that make for an effective, successful social worker. Cultural humility, awareness of implicit biases, and a clear sense of how to make research and practice-based decisions to advance human rights—all these things, Bradberry says, will help her help those in need.

After graduation, her goal is to help people who have been through, or are going through, what she’s endured. She will also enroll in graduate school to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker so she can not only further her own career, but also uplift and help those who are most vulnerable and in need.

It is no exaggeration to say that Bradberry’s life has transformed since her days as a flight attendant—she doesn’t fly anymore, for example, as she now dedicates her time and energy to helping others. Figuratively, however, she’s only just taking off, both in life and her career.