"I believe that participating in the [Learning to Learn] Dominican Republic Service and Immersion trip changed me fundamentally as a person. Coming from Jamaica, a similar island in the West Indies, the experience of being immersed in the DR allowed me to see my roots and my parents’ roots through a different lens. It made me even more grateful for the opportunities I have and assured me that I needed to use my mind, heart, and voice to make a difference in this world." - Shakalah Thompson '21| READ MORE: http://on.bc.edu/Shakalah_Thompson

"Boston College’s commitment to forming men and women for others has guided my education throughout my four years and allowed me to grow and change in ways I had never imagined. I had opportunities to work and volunteer with kids with disabilities which allowed me to find my calling. I was able to work extensively on a research project that has real-world implications for environmental racism and social justice. I met the most wonderful people who now know me right to my core. All of this was possible through surrounding myself with men and women committed to making the world a better place for everyone. I’m incredibly grateful that I was surrounded by people who believed in me, challenged me, and made my time at BC everything I could have asked for and more." - Lizzy Congiusta '21, a Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development graduate who will pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology | READ MORE: http://on.bc.edu/LizzyCongiusta

“Ever since I was a little girl, Boston College has been my dream school. Both of my parents attended BC, all I ever wanted was to become an Eagle like them. I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when I was born. Because of this disease, I face challenges every day that other people do not have to deal with. People at BC have been understanding about the medical accommodations I may need and have made sure I feel comfortable and taken care of. I have felt so welcomed, and I know my disability is not going to get in the way of my being here.” - Cate Cheevers ’23, BC Strong Scholarship recipient | Read More: http://on.bc.edu/BCStrong2021

“I started the hackathon when I was a freshman at Boston College. It started off as a 50-person event and it turned into this much larger thing that now serves hundreds of students all around Boston. I would say that by my senior year, about half the organizing team were people who were not computer science or ‘tech’ people, and I think that's the story for a lot of things at BC: this very multi-disciplinary merging of ideas. Our team was a bunch of non-computer science majors and computer science majors who just really cared about getting people the opportunity to see how cool computer science can be.” - John Abreu ’20, software engineer at Instagram | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/2020Grads

“One of my most important experiences at Boston College was the Appalachia Program. Not to be melodramatic, but it changed my life. Being in the communities and meeting people who cared so much about making a difference was so powerful to me. I think it’s fitting that I ended up at Marie Claire because activism, using your voice, and celebrating people who are fighting for change—almost like they're our versions of celebrities—that's something we do here.” - Sally Holmes ’09, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire | Read more in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/BCM_TheEditor

"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