"What Boston College has made me do overall is just been be accepting of the fact that there is a diversity of perspectives and multitudes of ways of seeing the world and being able to really kind of revel in that diversity of humanity, diversity of thought, diversity of experience, diversity of background. I think that's been one of the coolest things. That awe that I had my freshman year of, 'Wow, there's so many incredible people here and in the world,' I think has been one that's only strengthened over my four years. This awe at the power of humanity and what it can do." - Hariharan Shanmugam '21 | Hear more from Hariharan: http://youtu.be/JmL-CP7HU5U

"My mom is my hero. Despite her struggles, she is the most hardworking and sacrificing person I know. Even after the darkest of days, she always comes out a winner. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I look at my mom and think, 'If she can do it, so can I.' When I started my business, my mom was my biggest supporter. If I was up late at night finishing a project, she was there right beside me, helping in any way she could. I hope that one day, I can become at least half the woman my mother is." - Ilona Znakharchuk '21, founder of Conditer

“I am privileged and blessed by a career within the military, Air Force, and nursing profession. I received a strong academic and personal foundation from Boston College through the clinical and educational rigors, outstanding professors who offered me a diverse perspective of the world, and friends as well as experiences that transformed me into the person and leader I am today. I am extremely proud to be a Boston College Connell School of Nursing graduate.” - Brig. Gen. Jeannine M. Ryder '91, U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps Chief Nurse | Read more about Brig. Gen. Ryder, who is the commander of the 711th Human Performance Wing in the Air Force Research Laboratory - AFRL: https://bit.ly/3uwwx3d

"Throughout my journey at Boston College, I have learned the real meaning behind BC's mission of 'cura personalis.' This phrase has been a common theme in all aspects of my life. As a nursing student, it’s important to 'care for the whole person.' Just like we care for our patients, we need to nourish our own health and wellness. As a Resident Assistant, I have taught my residents the importance of self-care. At a recent event, they wrote words of gratitude and positive affirmations on succulents. During these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it solidified the importance of cura personalis." - Danielle Palmieri '21

"Since my arrival at Boston College, I've had the privilege to learn from and work with the individuals that best embodied St. Oscar Romero's legacy. Their presence in my life not only exposed me to his teachings but also taught me what service for lasting impact looks like as a student at Boston College. My proximity to them was heavily facilitated by the Organization For Latin American Affairs, where together we tackled social and political issues affecting our community while providing a space for individuals to explore and celebrate their Latinidad." - Lazaro Alvelaez '22, finalist for the 2021 Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship

"Learning about Romero’s life, mission, and sacrifice demonstrated to me that all you need to make a change in this world is courage, faith, bravery, and love for others, the world, and the community. That is within all of us. Change begins with one person so thank you for believing that I will be one of those people." - Daniela Vazquez Loriga ’22, winner of the 2021 Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship | Read more: http://on.bc.edu/Romero2021

“The most rewarding thing about my role is the amount of data that we're able to produce and who it goes out to. I got an email from the lab director a couple of months ago and she really put it in perspective: every single test result we put out is important data for physicians and for public health specialists. Once I got that into my head it was really humbling. The people of Connecticut now have a lot better idea of how fast COVID can spread because of the work that my team and I put in every day.” - Mir Ali ’20 processes thousands of COVID-19 tests every day as a clinical genomic technologist at The Jackson Laboratory | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/2020Grads

“I came to this country from Puerto Rico when I was eight years old and I grew up in Lawrence. In the inner city community, we felt that museums weren't for people like us—it wasn't something that was part of our lives. When I saw the MFA position, I thought, this is a big place for me to open doors for people that usually would not walk through. So I took the opportunity and I got the job. I'm super excited to do this particular work that means a lot to me in this particular place during this time.” - Rosa Rodriguez-Williams MSW’99, senior director of belonging and inclusion at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | Read more in Boston College Magazine: http://on.bc.edu/Rodriguez-Williams

"In 1955, when my grandfather George Koukounaris immigrated to the United States from Greece, he had only an elementary school education, $50, and not one word of English on his tongue - just his faith and natural-born talents. He made a life for himself in Lynn, MA, and eventually for my grandmother, by trusting his God-given abilities and working hard to prove that he was capable of success, even when the odds were stacked completely against him. He used to say 'The only things you can own forever are the things you give away.' Service was his life’s purpose. My grandfather instilled in me one of the most important aspects of service: standing in solidarity with others. His perspective inspired me to dedicate a large part of my life to serving others. As a leader of APPA Volunteers, I feel fortunate to have the ability to lead and serve. I hope to inspire other students to approach service like he did, from a place of humility and solidarity. While my grandfather has passed, I strive to honor his legacy each day through my commitment to serving others." - Chloe Noelle Lelon '23

"Serving as vice president of Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) has been a tremendous opportunity to serve the Boston College community. Walking up to students around campus and talking with them about their experiences gives me joy and proves even more rewarding as such conversations motivate me to do better. My journey with student government has definitely challenged me and made me constantly assess my values and goals. I am proud to be a member of such a wonderful body and look forward to continuing my journey on the Heights" - Kevork Atinizian '22, current UGBC Vice President

"First as a student and then as faculty, Boston College has been my home for nearly two decades. When the pandemic threw us a curveball, BC responded. All my students, my TAs, and I had to double down and work our hardest. It was tough for all of us, but we didn’t compromise. We continued to learn and build our community. We covered current events and other crucial topics like inequality and social justice. And together we found new ways to make formative education happen - this time online. As we finally approach the other side of the pandemic, we emerge even more committed to 'Ever to Excel.' I am in awe of my brilliant students and amazing colleagues. Yes we can!" - Economics Professor Can Erbil M.A. '95, Ph.D. '02

"Growing up with Dwarfism and learning disabilities, I had to learn how to advocate for myself at a very young age, and I am still learning to this day. Taking an enduring questions course centered around disabilities my freshman year not only allowed me to connect my personal identity and experiences to my studies, but I also learned about the lived experiences of people with disabilities outside of my own. I joined the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) Council for Students with Disabilities my sophomore year to continue learning and advocating for others with disabilities, but it has come to mean so much more. I have met some amazing people through CSD who all have incredible stories of their own experiences of living with or advocating for disabilities, and all of them are extremely passionate about making Boston College a more accessible and inclusive place." - Svea McNally '22