On May 2, Katia Destine will graduate with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Getting to this point is a testament to resilience, passion and the transformative power of education. Born and raised in Pine Hills, Florida, by parents from Haiti, Katia’s life was shaped by the richness of her heritage and her drive to follow her career aspirations.
Destine’s academic and career goals have always been deeply rooted in her love for the arts and a drive to create change. From a young age, she was drawn to the world of creative expression.
“I’ve always had a love for the arts,” Destine said. “I wanted to become a film director and make films as a job.”
While her dreams were bold, the financial realities of being a first-generation college student often made the future feel uncertain.
Despite her artistic immersion, the looming transition to college was fraught with challenges. She applied to several art schools, determined to follow her passion, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit during her senior year, everything changed.
“Throughout my senior year, I mostly applied to art schools and then the pandemic happened, and it kind of made me recalibrate what I essentially wanted to do in my life,” Destine said. “I took a gap year and decided to volunteer in different nonprofits.”
Taking a gap year, Destine began volunteering with nonprofits focused on arts, music and even financial literacy. She gained hands-on experience in both creative and educational spaces. These experiences sparked a deeper realization.
“I just wanted to find a program that kind of combined the different passions I had,” Destine said. “I was really interested in people who came from backgrounds like mine and how the industry affects them.”
That search led her to UCF’s Interdisciplinary Studies program, where she found the flexibility to explore her wide-ranging interests in art, education, media and social justice. The program not only allowed Destine to blend these areas but also connected her with faculty mentors who played a pivotal role in her academic and personal growth.
Through immersive and thought-provoking courses with professors like Dr. Leah Gaines, Dr. Sharon Woodill and Dr. Danielle Pratt, Destine said she found both inspiration and direction. With encouragement and mentorship from faculty members, she conducted extensive research and presented at international conferences. Her research has been focused on topics including storytelling, media representation and cultural memory.
Destine’s academic journey has also been supported by UCF’s McNair Scholars Program. She said the program has been instrumental in helping her navigate graduate school applications, build a professional network and develop her research.
In recognition of her scholarship, Destine received the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Over a five-year period, she will receive an estimated $159,000 that includes an annual stipend along with funds to pay for tuition.
In the fall, Destine will attend the University of Maryland to pursue a doctorate in sociology.
Destine plans to become a professor, using her lived experience and academic background at UCF to empower the next generation of scholars and creatives.