Eric Pildner is an outstanding graduate in Colorado State University’s School of Social Work after enduring hardship and working hard to earn his degree.
A first-generation student, Pildner was unsure if he was going to be able to attend CSU.
“I wasn’t originally planning to go to CSU. Truthfully, I didn’t think I would get in. I applied a day late and I got in,” said Pildner. “Later on, I did a tour of the campus and the moment I set foot in the Oval, something clicked in my head. I knew that I had to go to this school. It was beautiful and felt like home. I never lost that feeling.”
Along his journey to CSU, Pildner endured tremendous hardship. He never lost his way, however.
“I have lived through domestic violence situations, poverty, and mental health problems. Statistically, it was unlikely that I was going to get where I am now. Despite that, I have somehow made it through financial hardship, a pandemic, and many personal struggles throughout my college career. Persevering is in my blood, it’s what makes me who I am, and that was half the reason I was able to get to the end,” he said.
As a first-generation student, Pildner struggled and credits others with helping him on his way to graduation.
“College is confusing when you know nothing about it, and I was lucky to meet people who were also struggling or who had struggled previously,” he said. “Their guidance and advice, their willingness to listen, that is really what got me here. In reflection, I owe my graduation to a lot of important conversations with amazing people.”
Realizing his potential
Pildner is an outstanding graduate because of a concerted effort to always be better and because of people supporting him.
“The only reason I started doing better and working harder is because of professors and mentors who were willing to walk me through the hard moments I found myself in,” he said. “They were willing to work with me and they gave me multiple opportunities to succeed despite the challenges of the academic system. They saw something in me that I couldn’t: potential. They all brought it out of me, with each one teaching me what my strengths and weaknesses were. They showed me I could, and I can’t be more grateful for that.”
Pidner has also been employed with CSU working in the Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement office.
“The SLiCE office has been impactful on my time here. I have many thanks to give to the wonderful human beings I got to work with,” Pildner said.
“I work specifically with the Presidents Leadership Program, which is designed to help students become equitable leaders and get a leadership minor,” he said. “I want to give a warm thank you to my boss, Mo Moreira, the program director, for believing in me and pushing me as far as I could go. I can’t thank her enough for being someone who believed in me.”
Following graduation, Pildner plans to work and then continue his educational journey.
“I’m looking into being a caseworker for a local non-profit. I plan to get my Master of Social Work within the next year or two. Hopefully, it will be with CSU. Someday, I hope to tackle systemic oppression through academic research and evaluation.”
The School of Social Work is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
