“Meeting with prospective students and learning about their lives and what inspires their career aspirations is one of my favorite parts of my role in the Boston College School of Social Work. I’m also privileged to be able to share my own experiences here as a student. Looking back, as a Black immigrant woman and a bit of an introvert, I felt disconnected from the Boston College community at large. Now, understanding the vast opportunities available to students and having a better understanding of the Jesuit commitment to caring for the whole person, which aligns beautifully with the mission and values of social work, I can encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities and intentionally affirm for them that they belong here and have earned their spot.” - Paula Coutinho '99, MSW '03, BCSSW's Associate Dean of Enrollment Management Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

"I have had the opportunity to create safe spaces for marginalized identities at Boston College, and I am proud of always being there for my mentees, making sure they are comfortable coming to me when they are struggling academically, socially, or mentally. "Through my leadership roles as an RA, Freshmen League captain, peer mentor with Experience, Reflection and Action, Stride lead, and the general coordinator of the Queer Leadership Council, I realized that what the world needs me to be is a person for others. I feel like my truest self is when I am helping others and making sure they are taken care of. "Suffering from my own mental health struggles alone made me realize how important a support system is when you are at your lowest, and I want to be that support system as an emergency psychiatrist. I know that this journey will be worthwhile, as I will get to serve others and provide them with the treatment and help they deserve and need, which I wish I had during my lowest times." - Tushar Nag '26, winner of the 2025 Paul Chebator and Mer Zovko Community Award

"[Just go for it.] Worst case scenario, you give this a whirl for a couple of years and the stars don’t align,” he said. “But the amount you learn and the value you have to the next startup or employer goes up dramatically.” - Jason Krantz ’95, P’23, an SSC Ventures Partner mentor, giving his advice to young entrepreneurs | READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/SSCVenture_BCM

"One section of The Laughing Medusa’s mission statement reads, 'We hope to emphasize and explore our collective humanity, and hope that all readers can see themselves in these pages.' I find myself going back to these lines when I think about the organization that I love, that offers a space for authenticity, connecting artists and writers in a communal space of idea-sharing and creativity. Fostering an outlet where non-binary individuals and women can express themselves fully is what makes my role so fulfilling, and why the journal remains such an important presence on-campus." - Olivia DiRenzo '26, the Editor-in-Chief of The Laughing Medusa Literary Arts Journal Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

“To me, servant leadership is similar to being the caboose in a line—being humble enough to fall back when a certain group needs understanding rather than fixing, actively lifting up others and allowing them to have a voice. I’ve seen the fruits of servant leadership show up in spaces like The Essence Project Retreat where pure joy fills the room as women are affirmed in their wholeness, and in Arrupe where genuine relationships are built and transformed through conversation and mutual recognition. These experiences have shown me that leadership isn’t about being at the frontline, but about holding space, listening to others, and empowering those around you to step into their own voices.” - Candice Duncan ’26 Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

“Playing professional hockey is demanding and grueling at times, but you also have all this free time when normal people are working, so I started to explore restaurants and cooking. I would go to restaurants and write stuff, usually just for myself. When I signed a contract with a team in Charleston, South Carolina, it just so happened that Eater, an online publication, had a position open. I'm sure the editor thought it was a little interesting that a professional hockey player was applying for this freelance job, but she ended up taking me on.” - Parker Milner ’13, former Boston College Athletics goalie and The Post and Courier food editor | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/ParkerMilner13

“I got into this field because I love working with international students. It just makes me really happy. They’re the number one part of my work that brought me joy, and now I’ve met people from all over the world who I’m still in touch with. "You don’t just leave a place after 38 years. I’m going to continue doing the things that bring me joy, like teaching. And I’m going to miss the camaraderie and community at Boston College, but I’m excited to continue in friend mode.” - Adrienne Nussbaum, Associate Dean & Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars who has retired | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/AdrienneNussbaum

"My proudest accomplishment has been leading the successful efforts of the Feed Kids Coalition to make universal free school meals permanent in Massachusetts. We set out to pass a piece of legislation and build the support needed to make it happen, but it quickly became something bigger. The idea that every child should have access to food in school no matter their circumstances resonated so deeply that it brought people together from every background and perspective. It became a movement. Before this change, too many kids were going without the nutrition they needed at school because their families, though struggling, earned just above the limit to qualify for free meals, or because the paperwork was impossible to keep up with. The system was broken, and kids were the ones paying the price. We went into this campaign understanding that it was very ambitious and not knowing how long it would take, but we knew it was exactly the kind of systems change that would make a real difference. Now every child in Massachusetts has access to two free meals a day at school with no applications, no stigma, no barriers. When we work together, ending hunger is entirely possible. That is the ultimate goal: for Massachusetts to become a place where no one goes hungry." - Jennifer Lemmerman MSW’08, the chief policy officer at Project Bread who will receive Boston College School of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumni Award | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/Lemmerman

“It was my goal that I would complete all six world major marathons by graduation, and once I set my mind to it, I knew it was going to happen. The fact that it fell into place in one-and-a-half major cycles—that was something I didn’t expect. It started with running for charities, which was the first two, and then my relationships and the people I work with came through for the second two, and then came the luck, which is the thing that catches me off guard the most. Of all the things that shouldn't have happened, it was the two that I got into through the lottery—that's the blessing right there.” - James Redding ’27, who set a world record as the youngest male runner to complete all six world major marathons | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/JamesRedding

“The lack of sleep and the time difference were the hardest parts. I was interviewing for full-time roles at the same time the Olympics were happening, so there was one day where I had a 12 a.m. wake-up, worked until 3 p.m., and then took a train to New York City for a four-hour interview. That was the longest day, but being around such talented and tenured individuals makes you rise to the occasion. I just wanted to be a sponge and soak up as much as I could, because it was an honor just to be there, let alone get this award.” - Bailey Prete ’24, who was awarded a Sports Emmy for her contributions to the Paris Olympic broadcast on NBC | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/StartingStrong

"My first couple weeks working with immigrants at the Kino Border Initiative on the US-Mexico border, I was on fire. I wanted to hear the stories of each and every person, I wanted to give them everything they needed. I wanted to march into Congress and scream at the policymakers who create and then enforce this broken, inhumane system. But I soon realized that accompaniment isn’t always a shout; it’s a whisper. In a world that claims that some human lives are not worth the same as others, the biggest thing I learned from my time is that the most important service you can give someone is sometimes just a conversation. Just spending a minute to truly celebrate the holy presence of another person." - Daniel Berkes '27, who spent his summer working in Nogales with the Kino Border Initiative / Iniciativa Kino para la Frontera | READ his full reflection: https://on.bc.edu/DanielBerkes

“I just loved the school spirit. I would go to Boston College Athletics games in high school and wanted to be part of the student section...Having gone to a Catholic elementary school and a Catholic high school, I also liked that I could continue going to Mass at Boston College. My grandmother, who is friends with some of the priests here, definitely influenced my choice to go to a Jesuit college. My dad and grandmother were really excited for me [when I was accepted]. My dad immediately told everyone he works with. As a first-generation student, getting into BC was a big deal. When I got in, it felt validating for myself and my family.” - Tatiyana Orrego '29, whose father and grandmother work in BC Dining Services | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/AFamilyAffair