Anastasia Dedgjonaj is Post University’s 2026 Main Campus Valedictorian.
Anastasia is receiving a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, and during her academic journey, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA; is in the Honors Program, graduating with Honors Program Distinction; is Senator of the Law Club; and is President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Anastasia came to Connecticut from Albania, moving to America four years ago to follow her American dream of studying law in the United States.
She said: “I’ve always been passionate about law and helping people, and coming here and starting this journey in a country with so many opportunities and areas of law is a dream come true.”
After graduation, Anastasia is not leaving us: She plans to pursue a master’s degree in business intelligence and analytics, before applying to law school on her path to a career in business law.
During her time at Post, Anastasia said she has tried her best to get involved in as many leadership positions as possible, because she is “driven to bring justice and create a meaningful impact everywhere I go.”
1. What was your most memorable moment at commencement? How are you marking the occasion?
The most memorable moment for me was giving my Valedictorian speech. One of my friends told me, “Remember, this will be your moment, so take a few seconds and take it all in because it’s an opportunity you don’t often get.” And that’s exactly what I did.
The moment I sat on stage and saw the bright lights, I told myself, “You deserve this. This is all because of your hard work.” Suddenly, I felt so confident and powerful, and I don’t think I will ever be able to recreate that same feeling. It was really a wake-up call for me to see everything I had done to truly deserve this moment.
Seeing the smiling faces in the crowd and watching my family cry with pride is something I will forever cherish, because it showed me that my speech really had an
impact. I hope to change the way people see life and remind them how grateful they need to be for even the smallest things.
I marked the occasion by celebrating with my family and friends. I took a lot of pictures and videos to remember the day and reflected on everything Post has helped me accomplish. For me, commencement is not just the end of college—it is the beginning of a new chapter filled with new goals, opportunities, and growth.
2. What are some highlights from your experience at Post?
Some highlights from my experience at Post were attending the Northeast Regional Honors Council conference for the first time. The fact that I had to research and write a paper about women and how powerful we are, especially coming from a patriarchal country, made me fall in love with the entire process. After that experience, I made sure to attend the conference almost every year because it inspired me so much.
Another highlight was being part of the Advisory Group. That felt like such an honor because it was my first real experience with leadership and creating meaningful change on campus.
And the biggest highlight of my journey was being part of the Student Government, first as the Senator of the Law Club and then as the President of the Government. That experience really helped me, as a commuter student, get to know the community better, put myself out there, and become a leader that other students could trust, rely on, and ask for help.
3. How has Post prepared you for your future?
Post has helped me understand what real life is truly like. It will never be easy, and there will always be ups and downs. You will not always hear “yes;” sometimes you will hear “no.” You will fail at times and face difficulties, but there is always light at the end, and things always get better. Post has taught me all of this.
It has taught me the value of building connections, developing leadership skills, and gaining experiences that enhance my resume and prepare me for the future. It also showed me how important internships are and how much they can shape your career.
Most importantly, Post has prepared me for law school, especially through my legal studies major. This program has given me a strong background in what the legal field looks like, introduced me to real-life situations, and helped me better understand what area of law I want to focus on in the future.
4. What advice would you give to current or future students?
The advice I will always give to students is to never say no to opportunities. No matter how small they may seem, take them. That opportunity could open the door to something even bigger, or it could turn into a mistake—but either way, it will teach you something valuable. You will always gain something from the experience, whether it is good or bad, and that is what real life is all about.
Do not be afraid to try. Do not let the fear of failure stop you from becoming the person you are capable of being. You have full control over your life —don’t make it boring; make it exciting, challenging, and meaningful. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone, take risks, and see how strong and capable you truly are.
Life is about restarting, rebuilding, and proving to yourself over and over again that you can achieve bigger and better things.
5. Who has had the biggest impact on your life during your college career? In life?
The biggest impact on my life during my college career—and in my life overall—has been my family. I was raised by two supportive parents who always believed in me and constantly pushed me to do better. They always used to say, “Ana, you will do great things when you grow up,” and those words shaped the confidence I carry with me today.
This shows how powerful family influence can be and how important it is to be supportive, especially when it comes to children. Kids remember everything, and I still remember so many things my parents told me growing up. Those words motivated me to work hard, stay focused, and keep pushing forward so I could grow into someone they would be proud of.
Everything I have accomplished is because I wanted to make them proud and give back to them one day, so they would not have to work a day in their lives anymore. My family’s support has been the foundation of everything I have achieved, and it continues to inspire me every day.
6. What’s next for you?
I am so excited for what the future holds for me. My next step will be my master’s in business intelligence and analytics, which will give me time to prepare and apply for law school, and then law school. It has been a dream of mine for so long, and it is getting closer and closer every day.
Each step feels like progress toward the life I have been dreaming of,
