Gabriela Marroquin Bednarska, Communication Studies

For Gabriela Marroquin Bednarska, storytelling isn’t just a passion—it’s a way to advocate for voices like her own, shaped by a multicultural upbringing that spans three continents.

The Communication Studies major brings an interesting perspective on globalization: her mother was born in Poland, raised in South Africa and moved to the United States, where she met Marroquin’s father, originally hailing from Guatemala.

Raised in the U.S., she has both fond memories of visiting the places of her parents’ origins and a deep appreciation for how her intercultural family worked to keep her connected to her roots. 

Marroquin hopes her lived experience has prepared her to understand and effectively tell the stories of people she’ll meet as a future journalist. “As I grew up, my love for stories intertwined with my love for writing, and I found myself really enjoying journalistic work. All of that led me to where I am now,” she said.

Throughout her time at Stockton, Marroquin has taken advantage of opportunities to learn more about herself and her professional aspirations, such as studying abroad in Japan. According to her, the experience and lessons she learned while abroad were invaluable.

“The eclectic range of programs, classes and experiences available at Stockton helped me to define my true professional interests, and I don’t think you can really get that at most other colleges,” Marroquin said. 

Shortly after returning from Japan, however, she found herself forgetting the parts of her routine day-to-day life she experienced.

Nervous about the possibility of not remembering them as time ticks by, Marroquin has found intentional and creative ways to keep the memories alive.

This soon served two benefits for her: she could look back on some of her happiest moments and apply this kind of self-reflection to her coursework.

“I realized that by making scrapbooks, taking photos and keeping a journal, I could keep a record of my happiest moments, and I've been able to weave those records into my classwork,” Marroquin said. “Many of my classes had me recount specific moments for writing assignments, so I was able to look back on my experiences with ease.”

Marroquin is undoubtedly excited about crossing the stage this May, saying that her collegiate journey and degree make her feel like she has “a lot of options at my fingertips.”

However, the creative-at-heart is also sorting through some bittersweet feelings about leaving the nest.

“The walks around the campus trails will be missed, mourned even. It was my main way to decompress,” Marroquin said. “But I'm definitely going to miss my roommates the most. These last two years have brought us together like we're siblings. I'll forever cherish my memories with them, from doing homework together in silence to our mini karaoke nights in our living room.”