Class of 2020: Aili Miyake

Part of me is glad that I don’t have to give this speech in front of everyone because if you remember how I was last year, I would be balling on the floor while someone else read this for me. Anyways, this is about Aili. Aili is the most extraordinary human being to have ever existed. She has a smile that would light up her own galaxy. Her kindness radiates out of her, bringing joy and happiness to all of those around her. I was lucky to have met her on my first day of PEAC, and from their formed a great friendship I wouldn’t trade for anything.

To get an idea of how we got to now, we will have to go to the beginning to get some understanding. There I was, wearing a bro tank top, a floral backward hat, golden blonde hair, shorts, and flip flops. Yes a total frat boy by design, and by no surprise that was Aili’s initial thought of me (she later revealed to me years later). Nonetheless, that first impression quickly changed with our first interaction. We all had just been split into pods to do a scavenger hunt, and everyone in our group went around introducing themselves to each other with their name. I was the last to go, and instead of saying my name like the rest I asked: “how do I tell my roommate that I’m gay?” Aili responded with “what does it matter if he knows or not? Just be you!”. Aili and I bonded through that scavenger hunt as we were the only ones who truly wanted to win. She was the brains and I was the brawns. Well not much of brawns, more like the only person willing to run. Sadly we lost because we did not know what any of the buildings were even though we cheated by looking everything up. It also had to do with the fact that any spherical shape on top of buildings we assumed to be a telescope.

As PEAC went on Aili and I, along with Paige and Michael spent nearly every second of every day together. And I mean every second. Aili and I basically forced the others to study along with us and be together as a family. We would do our homework once class was over so that we would basically have the rest of the day free. We would make Aili watch movies she had never before seen, Michael and I forced her and Paige to listen to Nicki Minaj on a constant loop, we would play Egyptian Rat slap where I would stab Aili with my nails, and we would all share a gallon of ice cream with plastic spoons—yes plastic, a touchy topic, but not a huge problem in 2016.

The best memory I have about Aili from PEAC was when she went to go shower as the rest of the squad was in her room playing card games, and all of a sudden the power in all of CU Boulder went out. Complete darkness, to the point where you could not see inches in front of you. Well, why is this the best memory of Aili, well after the lights came back on we find Aili with her shirt inside out and mad. While we were all having fun in the dark abyss of the night, Aili was trapped in the bathroom naked in complete darkness, Naked and Afraid one might say, and no one had thought about helping her out. I’m sure she never fully trusts me after that incident.

Outside of PEAC, Aili was always my gym buddy—plus obviously we did everything else too. We would go to the gym and catch up about our life and week while simultaneously working out. We would take headphones with us to be on the Ellipticals but never used them because we would just talk the entire time as we stared at swimmer boys in tiny speedos—well mostly I did the staring. We then proceeded to do ab and butt workouts and would alternate who was counting and who was telling stories. Which turned mostly into Aili counting and me talking about boy drama—and there was a lot of that. Or it would be moments of silence where we would both count, but somehow one of us would finish before the other. Obviously we’re are not math majors.

At this point everyone can see I would lie in court for this girl, and it’s not like she hasn’t earned it. My opinion is very biased for a reason, but if you don’t want to take my word on it, here are some words that people would use to describe Aili: Powerful, Poised, Leader, Passionate, Loyal, Unique, Boss, Resilient, Wholesome, Wonderful, Brilliant, Kind, Sweet, and Classy. As Jaela Zellars put it “I feel like she’s the classiest person I know and it’s so effortless.” Everything Aili does seem effortless as she is the best person you have met, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t worked her butt off to do well. The number of times she has stayed up late at night would give you a headache.  

Now we all know that Aili is a phenomenal person outside of the academic realm, but it is important to look at how she runs the academic realm like a boss. Recently she received the Jacob Van Ek Scholars Award is an “award to recognize superior academic achievement and services to CU Boulder and the community.” Receiving this award means that she is the best of the best. She was also awarded the Professional and Academic Conference Endowment Grant (PACE) so that she can present her research at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. Sadly, COVID-19 canceled that trip—she still got the money though. She has been on the College of Arts and Science’s Dean’s List every semester of her academic career, only adding to her dedication to be a leader and community member while also simultaneously excelling in school. Apart from being an extraordinary MASP member where she has been both a mentor and Lead mentor for PEAC, she was also a part of the Norlin Scholars Program where she not only received the $6000 scholarship but also worked for them.

Speaking of jobs, Aili in her time at CU Boulder has been a Restorative Justice Intern for the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, a Research Assistant for the Sociology Department, an Office Intern for the Special Undergraduate Enrichment Program, a Pre-Law Intern for Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, a Policy Intern for the Office of Governor Jared Polis, a Legislative and Press Intern for the Office of Senator Michael Bennet while she was in Washington DC, and finally was the Treasurer for the Japanese Students Association here on campus. Aili was able to do so much in the same exact time frame as everyone else, but I swear her days are minimum 50 hours long because I can only read half a page of text before taking a four-hour nap.

On top of everything already mentioned you might wonder, well what else could she have done during her time here, well I have news for you. Aili has also defended and presented her Honors Thesis in Political Science and received the designation of Summa Cum Laude. This is the highest Latin Honors someone can receive for a Bachelor’s Degree. Her thesis was something that she spent day and night working on, sometimes until 5 am.

Aili should be an inspiration to so many as she is one of the most hardworking and professional people I know, while still being humble and offering her time to help others. We have been in the presence of greatness, and one day we will be voting for her to represent us in the government.