Catching up with Salisbury graduate Kierra Burda

Catching up with Salisbury graduate Kierra Burda


What is your full name?

Kierra Shyenne Burda


When did you graduate from Salisbury?

2016


I know you graduated from Roanoke College. Tell us about your time there.

I loved my time at Roanoke. Going to Salisbury, I was used to the small-school feeling where everyone knew each other. Roanoke is a similar, tight-knit community where the professors really care about the students. I loved going to a smaller school where I was able to get involved on campus and really take advantage of my college experience. I was able continue to participate in activities I enjoyed in high school like Cheerleading and Model UN, as well as take part in new experiences like leading service trips to rural Appalachia and spending a semester interning in DC. Overall, I had an extremely positive experience and am grateful for the many opportunities I had there.


What will you do next? 

I will be attending New England Law School in the fall as part of their Sandra Day O'Connor Honors Program. At Roanoke, I was really able to delve into my interest in the law, and I am excited to start the next chapter of my life in Boston.


What are your summer plans?

I was originally planning on working to save up money before going to law school, but the coronavirus pandemic has made that difficult. I am doing online tutoring for many of Roanoke’s summer classes, but other than that I am just taking advantage of the extra time I get to spend with my family before moving to Boston in the fall.


What have you learned through this pandemic?

I have learned to cherish the time you have with people when you have it. My senior year of college was just coming to an end when we were forced to leave campus and come back home due to the pandemic. Without a real graduation, I never really had the chance to say a proper goodbye to all my college friends, some of whom I may never see again. I am grateful for all the amazing memories I have with them, and I hope to see them again soon.


What was your favorite high school memory?

My favorite high school memory is probably a tie between winning debate finals my junior year and competing in the colonial league cheerleading competition my sophomore year. I am grateful to have been a part of the legacy Mr. Barna has built for the Salisbury Debate Team, and winning finals that year was an amazing experience. I also loved the cheerleading competition my sophomore year because even though we didn’t win, it was my first competition and we hit every single one of our stunts. I also got to share the experience with my sister who was a senior at the time.


What is your favorite movie or TV show and why? 

I don’t watch movies or TV shows very often, so I would probably have to say my favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast. I’m a big Disney fan, and Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite ever since I was a child. I really enjoyed seeing the live-action remake come out a few years ago as well.


How is your family doing?

Everyone is doing well! My mom is lucky enough to have a job where she can work from home during the pandemic, and my dad is continuing to enjoy retirement (he loves all the curbside-pickup options that came out of this pandemic!). My brother, Mitchell, graduated from Kutztown University last year and also has a job where he can work from home during the pandemic. My sister, Brittany, graduated from Moravian College two years ago and has been working at Salisbury Middle School in a long-term sub position (known to her students as Mrs. Evans or, as some like to call her, Mrs. Boomer).


If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?

I would love to meet my mom’s mormor (grandmother), who passed away before I got the chance to know her. My mom has said I remind her of her mormor a lot, and she has always spoken so highly of her, so I would love to get the chance to meet her.


Who is your role model and why?

While there have been many people who I look up to in my life, my mom is my biggest role model. She has taught me what it looks like to not only be a strong and successful woman, but also a kind and genuine person to everyone she meets. I am grateful for both of my parents for raising me to be the person I am today, but my mom has truly inspired me to one day become as successful of a woman as she is.


#yoursalisbury