STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Commencement speaker Dafne Balderas says her family’s hope for a better future paved her way forward. As a first-generation student, she wants to honor the personal sacrifices they made to improve the lives of their children.
Raised in Waco by her mother, Balderas and her two older brothers grew up in a home of tough love and endless support. She recalls often translating for her mother and grandmother during medical appointments, and navigating those language barriers sparked her desire to transform healthcare for underserved populations.
“People just want to be heard,” Balderas said. “I want to help bridge that gap and be an advocate.”
Since accepting her scholarship offer at Tarleton State University, Balderas has been able to chase her dreams and make her family proud. She graduates this Friday, earning a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science with a pre-medical concentration.
On campus, Balderas has been a member of the TriBeta and Alpha Epsilon Delta honor societies and served as vice president of the Kappa Delta Chi sorority. She was instrumental in rechartering the sorority at Tarleton State in 2024 after a four-year hiatus.
As part of the Kappa Delta Chi sorority, Balderas volunteers regularly and cites their annual foster care Thanksgiving dinner as a cherished memory. While she never imagined herself in a sorority, Balderas credits her sisters for instilling her leadership and confidence. Now, she wants to inspire that same self-assurance in others.
“The hardest thing about being a leader isn’t the job,” said Balderas, “but learning that you belong in that position.”
In addition to her coursework and extracurricular activities, Balderas has participated in the Joint Admission Medical Program, a highly competitive state program that supports placing qualified students in medical schools and internships. Upon graduation, Balderas will begin medical school at Texas A&M University and plans to become an endocrinologist.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.