"When I first heard about Boston College and Boston College Law School's 3+3 program, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I just knew I was excited. Flash forward and I have learned so many lessons and was afforded incredible opportunities. The courthouse is where I spent my 1L summer. It is where I was able to watch and learn what it meant to be a litigator and solidified where I wanted my career to go. There have been too many experiences and lessons to list, but the biggest lesson I learned and the biggest piece of advice I have is this: You have to learn to take time to do the other things in your life that are important to you. Cuddle with your dog, do the hobby that you love, or just to walk outside on a gorgeous day. Work, success, and achievements are important, but finding that balance is critical." - Emma Coffey '18, Law '20

“I immigrated from London, and experienced many challenges. Nevertheless, my parents were very supportive, and always reiterated the importance of education. I started from a humble beginning and recognized how strong my family's faith and foundation was, which contributed to my developmental growth. I cherish the opportunities that I have been given thus far. They have deeply humbled my experiences at Boston College. I don't take anything for granted; I appreciate the small things in life. And my faith plays an integral part in my life. My role as the Director of the Montserrat Coalition has allowed me to connect with the students holistically. Students have been vulnerable and entrusted me with their personal experiences, which I don't take for granted. I appreciate that very much. However, transparency has enabled me to serve the students at a level that respects, honors, and values them. It's important for me, knowing that the students are thriving at Boston College, this is inspiring and gives me joy. I've committed my time at Boston College to empower the students to become future leaders. My goal is to continue to eliminate the perceived barriers, so they can pursue their spiritual, social, and intellectual development. Being a proud double Eagle and a BC mom continues to empower and inspire me on my journey serving the Montserrat community. I know my labor is not in vain. And remember what I always say, 'If you are working on something that you really care about, you don't need to be pushed to do it!'” - Yvonne McBarnett '05 '09, P'16,'23, a.k.a. Ms. Smiley, Director of the Montserrat Coalition

“This is not how I expected this summer to go. I envisioned this job being very hands-on and very in-person, so once we got the notification that we'd be virtual, I was like, ‘Oh no!’ But with these one-on-ones that we've been doing, it's been great to actually be able to interact with prospective students virtually. And it's almost like the experience is more tailored to them, which I think they enjoy, especially at a time when there are no real answers as to what the next year will bring. Additionally, what also surprised me is how close our staff has become. We do little Zoom hangouts on the weekends and group texts all day long. It's nice to know you have a team with you, even though we're all over the country.” - Mary Kenny ’22, one of 18 Boston College Admission student employees leading virtual conversations and panels with prospective BC students | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/COVIDAdmission

“I had been doing improv in high school and enjoyed it, but I always thought, ‘I'm going to college. I'm probably going to work in advertising or public relations and that's how my creativity will take form.’ I think it was being on My Mother's Fleabag, being part of this grand tradition that included Amy Poehler and Cameron Esposito, that allowed my love of improv to blossom. The caliber and seriousness with which we held ourselves created this feeling in me that this is a real skill, my performances with these people are special, this is not a hobby. Fleabag helped me realize that I could make a life of this.” - Lou Wilson ’14 | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/LouWilson

"When Czar asked if I would be a part of Parsippany College Connect, it was an easy yes! PCC is an interactive website that we designed to help the graduating class of 2020 from the two high schools in our town. The information is provided completely by the recent high school graduates that want to volunteer their advice. It has been a really great experience for me because I get to give back to the town that I grew up in and reconnect with old teachers along the way. I am really grateful to come from such an amazing town that is so willing to help each other. In my eyes, this process has exemplified the meaning of 'Men and Women for Others.'" - Rebecca Klausner ’21, co-founder of Parsippany College Connect | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/PCC

"I applied to 21 different universities. I applied to Boston College because I had friends who went here and I thought, ‘What's one more university?’ I remember I had been receiving a string of rejections. I was sitting in my car after work and I got an email from Boston College. I opened it, clicked into the pdf, and it started with ‘I am delighted to...’ and I was just so happy. I called my dad and said, ‘We’re going to Boston!’ My friend showed me around, showed me her friends, showed me what made BC special. I even went to the annual ALC Showdown, which really sold the college to me. And from that, what I got was that BC students are a type of people. Everyone was community-oriented. Everyone was willing to have conversations. Everyone was willing to be a friend and willing to give you a chance.” - Bijoy Shah ’22 is one of the 18 students in Boston College Admission's program leading virtual conversations and panels with prospective students | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/COVIDAdmission

“I have been a teacher for 40 years and for the first 24 of those years, I taught only graduate programs. When I came to Boston College in 2004, I had never taught undergraduates, so there was a bit of anxiety about how I would fare with younger students. To my delight, the experience of teaching undergrads has been the single most enjoyable aspect of my time on the Heights. The intelligence, cheerfulness, good-heartedness, and energy of BC students has made me proud to be part of this wonderful University. I consider myself very fortunate to spend the remaining years of my teaching ministry in the company of people I enjoy and admire.” - Fr. Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M., Boston College Theology Department Professor

“I’m the son of two immigrant parents. My mother came here from Italy and my father came here from Cape Verde. Since I was little, they have been telling me and my brothers the same thing: If you see something you want, you’ve got to go get it. There is no excuse. If you really love something, you stick with that, you get better at it. You work on your craft and make it a profession. Don’t waste time…You want to get the most out of life. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I went to my dream school and graduated from my dream school…and filmmaking will be my career.” - Brandon Brito ’20, who won the Boston College Art, Art History, and Film Department’s Screenwriting Award and whose senior thesis was the documentary short “Kicking on Rocks: Football in Cabo Verde,” which has been selected for the Cape Verdean American Film Festival | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/MorethanaGame

"We all chose Boston College for a reason, whether because the coin landed on a certain side, because it checked all of our boxes, or maybe even because our tour guide so passionately raved about Portico. Regardless of the reason, we all ended up here, in this beautifully collaborative space where ideas are shared, friendships are formed, and hearts are opened. Being a part of Boston College Admission's Student Admission Program, or SAP, I have learned just how many different ways one can end up at Boston College. I’ve learned so much, about so many, and I am constantly left in awe of my peers. As I sit on the director’s chair in front of 250 people, or as I stumble walking backward in the middle of the quad, I often have imposter syndrome - friends who turned down Ivies, friends who have started companies, friends who have smiles big enough to light up Alumni. They surround me. That exact feeling is why I chose BC, why I continue to choose BC, and why I choose to talk about it every day in SAP. The passion that this student body has for anything imaginable, and even the unimaginable, needs to be known and heard. SAP affords me the space to reflect on my own experiences, praise the passionate people, and speak candidly about the imperfections. We all have room for growth - it’s the reason I came here - and I am forever indebted to SAP for contributing so greatly to that growth and for letting me never shut up about it." - Nikki Kearney, SAP Mission & Mentorship Coordinator & BC '21

“From the moment I knew about the Pew Latin American Fellowship, I pictured myself as one fellow of this prestigious program. Now under the guidance of an excellent scientist and pioneer in the field, Dr. van Opijnen, the dream has come true. I cannot be more thankful for this lifetime opportunity...My [research] findings could lead to new strategies for combating and clearing Spn, a potentially deadly bacteria, which is currently the leading cause of pneumonia in young children, even in the post-vaccine era.” - Luisa Maria Nieto Ramirez, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Associate Professor of Biology Tim van Opijnen, who has been named a 2020 Pew Latin American Fellow in the Biomedical Sciences | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/Ramirez_PewFellow

“Before Feed the Front Line Chicago, I wasn't connected to my community in the same way through food. I’m doing pickups at restaurants that I've gone to since I was a kid, but I never knew who owned them. Now I talk to those people every day. Our community is based on these business owners and these restaurant owners. Even though we're not sitting down and eating a meal together, the effort that they're putting in to prepare food for our community every day is really inspirational.” - Lori Niehaus ’18, co-founder of Feed the Front Line, Chicago | Read More: https://on.bc.edu/FeedTheFrontLine

“I could not have asked for a better work-study job. My time in the Robsham Theater Arts Center Box Office taught me so many important skills - teamwork, on the spot leadership, efficient problem solving - but more importantly, it brought me closer to the BC community. It's an incredible thing to see the excitement on students' faces when they're picking up tickets to Showdown or Homecoming, or to watch the proud families and friends attend shows. I was able to have so many meaningful conversations with the management team about how my time here would benefit my future. It was the perfect position for me to launch my love for arts administration, and it helped ignite my love for Boston College.” - Cassandra Pearson ’20, one of two seniors to receive the Boston College Robsham Theater Box Office's Director's Award