Stredic press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tyairra Stredic understands never quit.
She hopes Tarleton State University summer graduates and their guests will better appreciate the concept after her commencement address at 9 a.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium on the Stephenville campus.
“No matter what comes your way, keep going,” said the Brownwood native, who’s graduating with a master’s in biological science. “But also, learn from your experiences. Don’t just push at it like it’s a wall. Find different ways around that wall. When things happen, mentally or physically, keep working at it. Don’t sit down and give up.”
She knows her subject. As a junior, working toward her bachelor’s in biomedical sciences, Tyairra was diagnosed with lupus.
“That put a huge damper on everything,” she said. “I was fatigued and in pain 24-7. I could barely get to my classes.”
There were other health setbacks. Last year she suffered a stroke.
“It seemed like every semester there was something random.”
Overcoming these obstacles, she says, makes her graduation even sweeter.
“It helped me find out how strong I can be. I did have some hang-ups, but I kept grinding and got through it.”
After graduating from Brownwood High School, her initial plan was to attend Tarleton for two years, then transfer to Texas A&M. But she loved the Tarleton community too much to leave.
She is the daughter of LaSonya and Howard Hall and she has a brother, DeVante Stredic.
In working on her bachelor’s and master’s degrees since 2013, she earned Presidential Honors. A painting of hers was featured in a University of New Mexico magazine. She wants to combine her degrees with her art background to drive a message of eco-sensitivity.
“I want to basically combine the knowledge from my degree with art and modern technology to better appeal to millennials on matters of conservation. Since most have a passion for video games, that’s probably the best media to appeal to people. Our planet is dying, and we need to do something about it.
Despite the issues she faced as a student, there are aspects of her time in Stephenville that Tyairra remembers fondly.
“I will miss the open culture, the purple pancakes at homecoming — just, in general, being able to go around the campus with my friends. And the football games.”
You bet she’ll miss Tarleton.
It’s where she learned perseverance.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of nearly 17,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.