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Humans of Duke Sanford

Being part of the MPP Student Council last year was very defining for me. It was a great way to be involved with Sanford while getting to understand how Sanford plays a role within the broader Duke community. And it's really easy to kind of get sucked into the Sanford bubble. Really get stuck inside your own particular college. But I always encourage people to break out of that and try and explore different colleges, different friend groups. Even at Sanford, just by itself, there's a lot of opportunities to dive into. But there's so much more available to all students on campus. Even though you're a Sanford student, you're still a Duke student. All the resources at Duke are yours to take as well. I would hope that students feel free to go to Fuqua Fridays, to the Pratt School, take classes somewhere and try something new. Honestly, I think being at Duke and having access to everything, this has been the most transformative educational experience I've ever had. I have amazing friends here at Sanford, but I've also met great people in the data science program, many of whom have become some of my closest friends. And when I came to this program, I kind of swore I would never go back to a technical role. But being exposed to friends who have been working in the data science program, it's really helped me get over a lot of previous adverse feelings about being in a technical role. I feel a lot better about coding and programming than before and a lot more open to it and I feel there is a more natural place for that in my career. You might be tired from everything that you’re doing here. But students should use that last bit of energy to go to a Fuqua Friday, attend a class or a seminar, or see a guest panelist in another school. We’re only here for two, three, four years, for some people. So you have to make the most of it. Duke is an amazing place and brings so many interesting people to campus. I would encourage students to reach out and see all that’s available to them. – Keanu Valibia MPP/MEM ’25, Pres, Graduate and Professional Student Government #MPP #HumansofDukeSanford

Being part of the MPP Student Council last year was very defining for me. It was a great way to be involved with Sanford while getting to understand how Sanford plays a role within the broader Duke community.

And it’s really easy to kind of get sucked into the Sanford bubble. Really get stuck inside your own particular college.

But I always encourage people to break out of that and try and explore different colleges, different friend groups. Even at Sanford, just by itself, there’s a lot of opportunities to dive into. But there’s so much more available to all students on campus.

Even though you’re a Sanford student, you’re still a Duke student. All the resources at Duke are yours to take as well. I would hope that students feel free to go to Fuqua Fridays, to the Pratt School, take classes somewhere and try something new.

Honestly, I think being at Duke and having access to everything, this has been the most transformative educational experience I’ve ever had.

I have amazing friends here at Sanford, but I’ve also met great people in the data science program, many of whom have become some of my closest friends. And when I came to this program, I kind of swore I would never go back to a technical role.

But being exposed to friends who have been working in the data science program, it’s really helped me get over a lot of previous adverse feelings about being in a technical role. I feel a lot better about coding and programming than before and a lot more open to it and I feel there is a more natural place for that in my career.

You might be tired from everything that you’re doing here. But students should use that last bit of energy to go to a Fuqua Friday, attend a class or a seminar, or see a guest panelist in another school.

We’re only here for two, three, four years, for some people. So you have to make the most of it. Duke is an amazing place and brings so many interesting people to campus. I would encourage students to reach out and see all that’s available to them. – Keanu Valibia MPP/MEM ’25, Pres, Graduate and Professional Student Government #MPP #HumansofDukeSanford

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