From April 14 to 18, the University of Houston Career Services partnered with the National Student Employment Association to celebrate student workers across campus during Student Employment Week. This occasion honors all student workers who help shape the divisions and departments in which they work while applying and developing their professional skills. The week concluded with a luncheon to recognize annual award nominees for student workers in four categories: UH Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, UH Graduate Student Employee of the Year, Outstanding Leadership Award, and Innovation and Technology Award.
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design second-year architecture student Sanam Davariar took home the prize for Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year for her role as a digital media work-study student on the College’s marketing and communications team. In addition to her duties and studies, Davariar also serves as president of the UH National Organization of Minority Architecture Students. Her interest in architecture, photography, design, and community led her to apply for the job—those passions also made her an outstanding candidate for the role.
As an architecture student, juggling academic pressures, long hours in the studio, extracurricular activities, and life in general can be daunting. Davariar’s personal challenges included internal fears of failure and procrastination; however, she worked through these obstacles with genuine enthusiasm for the work and a go-getter attitude. Her secret weapon? Just get started.
“Whenever I felt stuck, I reminded myself to just take that first step. Removing the pressure to be perfect right away freed me to actually grow,” she explained.
While Davariar strengthened her skills in photography and design by documenting College and alumni events throughout the year and creating collateral and event signage, she learned new skills through the work-study opportunity. This included using professional camera equipment, setting up microphones, and utilizing new software.
“I have always had a knack for learning new software and programs throughout high school and college, but this experience really allowed me to strengthen my skills in the Adobe Suite in ways I’m so proud of,” she said. “I have been able to learn Premiere Pro from scratch, and now I use it to edit personal vlogs and [videos from] trips! It has been amazing to see how skills I learned through work have carried over into my own life.”
Her existing and newly developed skills had a significant impact on the College’s social media, where she focused on creating content centered around students and college culture. Davariar leveraged her connections as a student leader to collaborate with her peers on producing video reels to promote lectures, exhibitions, and mental health resources during finals season. Her efforts resulted in doubled video views on the College’s social media and garnered higher engagement from fellow students, fostering connection.
“Capturing the life, the spirit, and the community of this place has truly been a highlight of the job. Seeing people interact with each other, with ideas, with projects — and being trusted to capture those moments — pushed me to see and celebrate the beauty that is the Hines College culture. It is something I will always carry with me,” she added.
“I am thankful every day not only for the opportunity to study architecture here, but to also serve the College. Every day I came into work happy and full of gratitude for what I got to do,” Davariar concluded, reflecting on her recent accolade. “I only hope I have left a small, positive mark on a place that has given me so much.”
By combining her humble nature, strong work ethic, and talents with a fearless drive
to grow, Davariar has transformed a student job into a foundation for future success.
Her journey at Hines College illustrates how meaningful campus opportunities can shape
a student’s growth and future. As she builds on her experience, Davariar will continue
to lead with intention, creativity, and dedication.
Sanam’s Top Five Tips for Success
Here’s how Davariar rises to the occasion and meets challenges head-on:
- Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself the same way you encourage your peers!
- Remember the why. When things get tough, reconnect with the passion that brought you where you are in the first place.
- Plan, plan, plan. Though we cannot plan for silly mistakes, it is good to have a general guide.
- Focus on productive work. You might be working all the time, but if you are not actually being productive, you are not getting anything done.
- Enjoy it all. Balancing school, work, and life means finding joy in every part of the journey — even the messy parts.