Gerardo Coyotl’s Semester of Reckoning and Renewal

For Gerardo Coyotl, this semester wasn’t all sunshine and daisies, it was a comeback story. What started with burnout and near defeat slowly turned into resilience and real academic momentum. “I was genuinely expecting an F in bio,” he told me. “Now, assuming the final goes well, I’m looking at a B.”

The turnaround didn’t happen overnight. We talked about spring break, the stress behind it, and the sense of renewal that followed. “That was when I got the energy I needed to keep going,” he said. From there, he recommitted: studying harder, regaining lost ground, and showing up even when it was tough.

Gerardo doesn’t shy away from honesty. “My time management was horrible,” he laughed, “but I learned to either finish work before getting home or just get it done at the last second.” It’s not perfect, but it’s progress and that’s what this semester was all about.

What stood out most in our conversation was Gerardo’s role in creating community. In a silent bio lab, he started conversations that helped open the space up. “Now people actually talk,” he said. That kind of social leadership is often overlooked, but it changes everything.

He also found clarity in writing for the sciences. “I understand now how to write professionally, but still sound human,” he explained. It’s a lesson that bridges both skill and mindset.

As for what’s next? Gerardo plans to study more and attend more school events. “Those are always fun,” he smiled. It’s a simple goal, but one that reflects a powerful shift: from just getting through to actually showing up for the experience.

– Diego Parra

---

Gerardo Coyotl: Turning the Semester Around

Gerardo Coyotl’s semester started rocky, especially with biology. He was close to dropping the class, but decided to stick with it. After a tough start, he’s now looking at a solid B—something he didn’t think was possible. That turnaround became one of his proudest achievements.

He faced serious burnout around spring break, brought on by the pressure of multiple difficult classes and personal stress. But the break gave him time to reset and return with better energy. He also learned that studying—something he used to avoid—was key to improving. Now he sees it as essential, not optional.

Gerardo found a sense of belonging in the bio lab by helping make the space more social. He started conversations and made it easier for others to feel comfortable. He also built real-world skills through hands-on lab work, like pipetting and running experiments. Those experiences made science feel more engaging and practical.

Next semester, he plans to study more and attend more campus events. Time management is still a challenge, but he’s aware of it and wants to improve. His mindset has shifted from just getting by to actively growing.

– Anthony Lovera

---