Same Kind of Different: Senior Spotlight on Allegra Negrete and Izzie Stephens

To say that they were best friends, joined at the hip, back in kindergarten wouldn't be quite accurate. But Allegra Negrete and Izzie Stephens were friends even at the tender age of five. And as the years passed, they stayed within one another's orbit, all through elementary school, and even through middle school at San Antonio's Providence Catholic School.

Then they parted ways, as Allegra shifted to Boerne Champion for high school, and Izzie stayed at Providence. Though they'd always been friends, the two didn't keep in touch-which makes it even more serendipitous that, when the time came to choose a college, they both happened to pick Texas Lutheran University.

It was as though fate played a part, as the two fell naturally back into their old friendship, but grew closer within the small TLU community, even rooming together sophomore year. "We were friends because it was a small school," says Allegra.

"Yeah," Izzie agrees. "This is the most we've ever talked."

"Funny how that worked out," Allegra adds with a smile.

The two agree that Izzie is the Type A personality of the pair-a quality she inherited from her mom. She came to TLU with a plan, right from the beginning. She committed to play softball-which she did through sophomore year-and she majored in sociology with a minor in political science, with the goal of going to law school after graduation. Now in the final semester of her senior year, she's going through the application process.

"The dream is UT," she says, though she's considering other schools as well. She'd prefer to stay in Texas. "Even if I end up going somewhere else, I think I want to come back and practice here," she says. And she's known for a long time what her ultimate professional goal is. "I want to eventually be an assistant district attorney, and I want to prosecute criminal law," she says. "Specifically, crimes against children and family violence cases." She's had that conviction since knowing a girl in high school who was dealing with abuse. Izzie is determined that although it will be a tough road to travel, it'll be worth it to help other such children.

Allegra, meanwhile, is our Type B personality in this duo. She came to TLU as a biology major. "My high school was really geared toward health careers," she says. That pathway seemed logical, but there were a few pretty hefty obstacles in the road. "I can't do math to save my life," she admits with a laugh. "And chemistry? Not for me."

On the other hand, Allegra had always enjoyed her history and government classes, and early on at TLU, she met Dr. William O'Brochta, assistant professor of political science, who eventually became Allegra's advisor. "I got lucky when I met Dr. O'Brochta," she says.

Thanks at least in part to O'Brochta's guidance, Allegra found her calling. After TLU, she, too, is headed for law school. She's already been accepted at Penn State-but in her case, the end game is still wide open. She's waiting to see how her education unfolds before deciding what kind of law to practice.

"Allegra and Izzie have, both individually and collectively, had an exceptional influence on TLU as an institution and on other students," says Dr. O'Brochta. "Beyond their true love for learning and academic achievement, their work has led to significant, meaningful change on campus and to a sizable group of students inspired to follow their model for civic engagement, scholarship, and building lasting community."

So: Back to their early years at TLU. Once Allegra figured out that she wanted to major in political science, the two friends began crossing paths a whole lot more often as their majors overlapped.

Their friendship has only grown stronger, and has proved to be a grounding force for both of them. "For me, especially my freshman year, I switched my major, and Izzie was already there-she already knew what she was doing," says Allegra. "I was kind of all over the place, and she's always been so consistent with everything."

There's that sense that the two balance one another out, which works both ways. "I feel like she's the opposite of me socially," says Izzie. "She's more outgoing." Allegra adds that Dr. O'Brochta has been a bonding force, getting the two involved together, even though their individual goals are very different.

But they have one overarching goal in common: In the next chapters of their lives, both hope to serve others. Allegra wants to be a mentor, in part born of her appreciation for those who've done the same for her. "I think showing students who are in the same position that I am, providing guidance to people who maybe aren't even going to law school-just being somebody like Dr. O'Brochta or like some of our other professors here who have really shown me the things that I'm passionate about that I didn't even realize. Just being that in someone's life."

Izzie sees herself in a similar role, but in her own way. "Kind of along those lines, especially with the career that I want to go into, being a safe space for people. Being someone people can rely on, especially in getting justice for kids. I want to be someone people can trust, someone that's going to stick up for people."

As they both prepare to graduate in May, they can look back over their undergrad years and see the lessons that rise to the surface-learned both in and outside of the classroom.

For Izzie, one of those lessons is a skill it takes some a lifetime to acquire: The art of the pivot. "I was-and am still-shy, but not as much as when I got here. I was not as willing to participate in things-I was very much in my shell," she says. "These last few years, I feel like I've learned how to grow and push myself, even when I'm uncomfortable." That wisdom has been coming in handy through the arduous law school application process. "It has not gone exactly how I thought it would," she admits. "It's been a lot harder than I anticipated. But I think dealing with that challenge and learning how to pivot and change my plan and be open to exploring new things has really been helpful for me."

Allegra, too, has picked up a few life lessons over the past four years-including the importance of keeping tabs on what's most important. "I've learned that working hard is very important, but at the end of the day, the things that are going to make your experience are the relationships you build in the process of working hard," she says. "I thought that I was going to come into my undergraduate experience, get my degree, and leave. But I've met a lot of people here who've had a really profound impact on my life, whether that be professors or other students. I carry that with me."

As commencement day quickly approaches, the two will be going their separate ways again. But those important lessons they've learned, the relationships they've built, their friendship . . . Those things will stay with them, whatever the future holds.