Alyssa Hogan '24: From the Classroom to the Community
One transformative high school law class changed Alyssa’s college plans from STEM to political science.
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Growing up in a suburban town outside of Boston, going to college in the city had always been a goal for Jake. After touring Emmanuel's campus he felt it had the perfect mixture of “small campus feel and big city appeal.”
Law, legal studies and public policy had been an interest throughout high school, and after meeting Emmanuel’s political science faulty at admissions events, he felt the College would be the right place to engage academically and experimentally with these interests.
During his “Strategies of War and Peace” courses with Professor of Political Science Lenore Martin, he and his classmates engaged in a four-week simulation in which they were given a state or non-state actor and were expected to negotiate the ongoing, multi-faceted conflict in Syria.
“This forced me out of my conventional and simplistic way of looking at an international conflict and compelled me to think critically and to consider the conflict from all perspectives,” he said. “My understanding of the world has continued to evolve during my time at Emmanuel and has provided me the ability to confidently articulate my own perspective.”
Through his internships in state and federal government, Jake has been able to gain insight into his career path in legal studies and public policy, experiencing politics in action and working in constituent services on a day-to-day basis.
As a Congressional intern in the office of U.S. Senator Edward Markey, Jake participated in rallies, answered phones and conducted legislative research. However, witnessing the effects of new policy initiatives from passionate constituents was the most meaningful.
“The political landscape may seem particularly divisive, given the current state of our democracy and the partisan gridlock that seems to have a stranglehold on the federal government,” he said.
“For me, it has been particularly exciting interning in Boston since the city has seen a steady rise in citizen engagement over the past four years.”
In all, Jake notes two particularly memorable experiences. The first was the announcement of the Green New Deal Legislation by Senator Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “This sent shockwaves through the country in a push for greater federal environmental reform and regulation, and it flooded our office with calls of support and appreciation.”
The second was the Boston Climate Strike in September 2019, which was held close to the Senator’s Boston office in Government Center. “When the protest ended, the whole office, including Senator Markey himself, went to stand in solidarity with the hundreds of people who stood in the sticky September heat to protest climate change.”
In addition to coursework and internships, Jake also discovered the importance of taking advantage of invaluable learning opportunities outside the classroom, including serving as a three-year Resident Assistant (RA) and as a member of the Men’s Lacrosse Team.
“Through this RA position, I was able to hone my interpersonal communication skills, facilitate a strong sense of community among residents and continue to grow and develop as a student leader and role model on campus,” he said. “Playing lacrosse has afforded me the opportunity to be able to better balance and prioritize my time over the course of the semester.”
One transformative high school law class changed Alyssa’s college plans from STEM to political science.
Counseling & health psychology major Christine came to Emmanuel knowing she wanted to pursue a career in health care, and the College’s opportunities and connections for students interested in the field—as well as a neuroscience course she attended at EC Incoming—made the decision an easy one.
Growing up in a suburban town outside of Boston, going to college in the city had always been a goal for Jake. After touring Emmanuel's campus he felt it had the perfect mixture of “small campus feel and big city appeal.”
Michael chose Emmanuel because of its location in Boston and its proximity to the city's "big players," specifically its leading names in the financial industry.
What began as an on-campus job in Emmanuel's student center transformed into a new career path for Jessie, one that brought her to Harvard University as a master's candidate in higher education administration.
Chemistry graduate Jennifer Scarborough '17 has found a way to combine her love for science and education. She shares her enthusiasm for the subjects as an education associate in the Hall of Human Life exhibit at Museum of Science Boston—one of the top science museums in the country (according to National Geographic).
At Emmanuel, management major Juan Sebastian Levy '14 prepared to succeed in an increasingly global society, experience that has taken him to Wayfair's offices in Berlin and back to Reebok's international headquarters in Boston.
As a high school student Benjamin Craig's motto was, "Here's my plate, load it on." He brought that mentality with him to Emmanuel, where he has always been ready to take on a new opportunity.
Kylia visited Emmanuel's Career Center for the first time during her freshman year and made key connections that would eventually lead her to a full-time position in research administration at Harvard University.
One of Jannet Desvira's goals early in her Emmanuel career was to become president of the Business Leaders of Emmanuel Club. She has achieved that and more—and is poised to become a business leader in the real world.
On campus and off, Jaxell Negron is all about building community. As an RA, he creates a strong, safe sense of rapport within his residence hall. Through the on-campus boxing club he co-founded, he gave students a new way to work out and relieve stress.
During her time at Emmanuel, Michelle Church has aimed to be well-rounded-in her academics, in her co-curricular activities and in her approach to finding the right fit for her career aspirations.
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
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