As I reflect on my fall semester at Bates College, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that MVYouth has made possible for me. After working in the Early Childhood Program this past summer at MVCS, I started my third pre-season with the Bates Women’s Soccer Team. I had worked hard over the summer to stay fit and was selected as the starting goalkeeper. While we did not have enough wins to make it to post-season play, I had a wonderful surprise from the MVRHS girls’s soccer team to see our game against Tufts in early October. I was also named to the NESCAC 2023 Fall All-Academic Team. Despite an unfortunate concussion that sidelined me for the last two games, I am grateful for the experiences and growth with my teammates this season. I declared a major in Psychology last year and engaged in challenging coursework this semester with a standout experience in Research Methods. I conducted a randomized survey studying Jewish and Protestant Americans. This hands-on research presented a positive and challenging opportunity to refine my skills in research, data collection, and analysis. The mass-shooting incident at the end of October was extremely scary and, while no one from Bates was directly affected, the Lewiston community continues to recover. I am looking forward to my spring semester abroad in Granada, Spain. I have enrolled in courses that will enrich my Hispanic Studies minor. I will be taking classes in Cross-Cultural Psychology, The Arab World and The West, and Flamenco dancing. The IES program also includes trips to Córdoba, Sevilla, and Morocco! Looking forward, I am hoping to secure an internship in Boston next summer and just learned that I was accepted to a Job Shadow program that will help to refine my internship goals. I am also excited about the opportunity to reside off-campus next fall and planning for my Psychology thesis course.
Maria Clara Lacerda - Northeastern University
Boston, a city pulsating with innovation and cultural vibrancy, has become the canvas for a transformative chapter in my life this past semester. Amidst historic streets and modern skyscrapers, I've discovered not just an academic haven but a thriving community that consistently exposes me to new perspectives and opportunities. This past semester I delved into a diverse array of classes, shaping my current academic and personal landscape. In the financial realm, engaging in a financial management class gave me valuable insights into managing monetary resources and making informed decisions. Simultaneously, a quantitative analysis class equipped me with analytical tools, enhancing my ability to interpret data and draw meaningful conclusions. On the psychology side, taking a personality class added a unique dimension, fostering self-discovery and enhancing my understanding of human behavior in various contexts, enriching not only personal relationships but also broadening my perspective on other relationships. By immersing myself in a blend of data science and business classes, my professional trajectory now points towards a career in the biotech industry. The prospect of applying my skills at the intersection of business and technology is thrilling, and I'm particularly excited about contributing to the dynamic landscape of the biopharmaceutical sector. With these aspirations in mind, I embarked on a search for a co-op that encapsulates these facets. Fortunately, I secured the opportunity to co-op this semester at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a groundbreaking biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of RNA interference therapeutics for genetically defined diseases. I'm immensely thankful for the opportunity to attend Northeastern University in Boston, a journey made possible with the support of MVYouth. I plan to seize every opportunity and eagerly anticipate the promising future that lies ahead.
Larissa DeOliveira - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
The past two semesters at UMass Amherst have been motivating, exciting, and transformative. In the spring semester of my sophomore year, I enrolled in five courses, which ranged from classes pertaining to world religions and Native American literature to classes that focused on putting teaching English into practice. Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 115 is a requirement for getting my certificate to teach English as a second language, and it was one of my favorite courses from that semester. This class meant a lot to me, as I was once a part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. I was assigned to tutor an international student, Tianyu Wang, who was from Beijing, China. During the course, I constructed my own lesson plans and lesson materials based on the skills that Tianyu wanted to improve while learning English. We met once a week for about an hour, during which I shared the lesson I had prepared, helped her with any assignments she had, and gave her the support she needed in her academic journey. Overall, I enjoyed the experience of being a teacher, and I am excited to apply the skills I learned to my career. This fall semester, I transitioned from living on campus in the dorms to living in an off-campus apartment, which was so exciting. I was enrolled in four English-focused courses this fall that introduced me to a variety of information and skills. My English 358: The Romantic Poets class was very interesting, as I got a formal introduction to poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. This class also brought back memories, like, for example, while I was studying Coleridge’s Kubla Khan, I was brought back to having to memorize it in Mr. David Wilson’s class my freshman year at MVRHS. As I advance my academic career, I become even more grateful for the support that MVYouth has offered me. Thank you to everyone involved in this program and to those who are making my academic success possible!
Brooke Crocker - Tufts University
This past semester at Tufts University was filled with new experiences and opportunities. It was my first semester living in an off-campus apartment, in which I was met with both challenges and positives. I really enjoyed living in an apartment with nine of my closest friends from college, hosting parties, dinners, and more with our newfound independence. During the semester I had an opportunity to continue interning at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston as I did last Spring. My work consisted of creating speaker series events based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) . My supervisor and I were able to work together for a few months, culminating in an event regarding SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. The internship was a great learning opportunity that allowed me to apply my International Relations knowledge. With respect to my classes this semester, I really enjoyed my International Economics course. I was eager to attend class every week and found the connection between macroeconomics and current events fascinating, learning about topics such as The Gold Standard, The Great Depression, and The Financial Crisis of 08-09. Furthermore, I was able to apply this information to another class titled “History of Consumption” that discussed a lot of modern day issues tied to consumerism and financial institutions. It was a great final semester at Tufts before I study abroad in Spain this upcoming semester. I am excited to learn more about Spanish history and culture and plan to take a few art classes, studying great Spanish artists to really envelop myself in everything the country has to offer. I am so thankful for MVYouth’s generosity, as they continue to help make my dreams come true. Thank you so much!
Chloe Combra - Trinity College Dublin
My second fall semester at Trinity College of Dublin in Ireland was full of new opportunities and great experiences. I got a lot more involved in the student societies and clubs offered at Trinity and joined the tennis team, boxing club, debate society, philosophical society, and the dance team. The best part of these was how they expanded my social circle and I met loads more people and made more connections that I never would have otherwise. Although the second year workload was significantly bigger I was still able to get away and do some traveling. I made it to Germany for Oktoberfest and camped on a little island off the coast of Ireland. Both were such invaluable and memorable cultural experiences. For my Christmas break I found a short term job in a ski resort in the French Alps and spent 8 weeks working part time and got in all the skiing I could. One of the best parts of this was when my roommates and I woke up early one morning and toured up one of the pistes at sunrise and skied back down before the lifts were open, meaning we had the entire mountain to ourselves! As a second year I had a lot more choice over the modules I could take for my degree. For example, I was able to take a course in the histories and futures of climate change which compliments my degree of Geography & Politics very well. Also picking up a French elective, I was finally able to work on my French skills again which I hadn’t used much since spending my gap year in Paris. Overall the start to my second year at Trinity was great and I am so looking forward to my next few!
Madeleine Chronister - University of Massachusetts, Stockbridge
Every year is different - like a changing shoreline, the tides ebb and flow, and with every passing day the sands move. They say you never stand in the same river twice, but it’s these ever-shifting places that through millennia shape the land. And as they etch themselves windingly along the surface of the earth, every day carves into me. Spring meltwater and slow summers alike. I waded through the brooks and lake-shores of western Massachusetts this fall, where the rainbow trout and blacknose dace live, as the world spun hazardously around me, in and out of my head. A long summer seeded a long fall, and though the winters become warmer each year, the days are still short and blinding, and they remind me to look back (there is a species of herring that can only be distinguished from another by the color of its guts- some things you can only see after they are gone). I too am marked by this fall, by the things that hurt and the things that didn’t. Marked by mistakes- regret and guilt- but also by love. By the stars and the moon and by long walks to the convenience store. These beautiful things, however big or small, that lay beside me in the grass. We remind each other- there is a future, always. Sometimes, the river will be hard to navigate, cold and rocky. Sometimes your waders will have a hole in them. And you might not even catch any lamprey. But it will not be this way forever - you have to keep pushing, even as the waters move under you, because every direction you move in is forward. Thank you to MVYouth, and to all of those who helped me continue onward this fall - I will remember you.
Michaela Benefit - University of Connecticut
Connecticut were amazing. I ended my spring semester with a study abroad program in South Africa studying track and sign of the native species on the reserve. This was an amazing program and I made so many memories and learned so much! While I was in Africa we didn't have our phones, which allowed us to be fully in-tune with our studies and really take in the beauty that surrounded us. I made so many new friends through this program and it truly changed my life. Coming back to the states I landed a landscaping job on the Vineyard for the summer and worked very hard. I learned a lot of new skills and met so many new people. The summer was coming to an end and the fall semester was starting. I moved off campus this semester and it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Some of the roommates are from my study abroad program and we all get along so well! This past semester I took a lot of general education classes which are needed for my major to ensure that I graduate in the spring of this upcoming semester. Some memorable events that happened this fall semester were that I joined the University of Connecticut western team and competed all around New England, I’m also still in my outing club group in my school and we are planning a skiing trip up to smugglers notch in January, and I also met a lot of new friends through all these experiences and I’m so thankful for this opportunity that was given to me by MVYouth. This scholarship has really helped me in creating new connections with people and around the world. I am so excited to see what's to come in my last semester at University of Connecticut and my future after graduation!
Crystal Zheng
Like most students, I was sad when summer was over but I couldn’t wait for the new semester to begin. I’ve continued my nursing studies this fall semester and it has been so much different from last year! I have gotten used to being a college student and am open to experiencing more challenging things. And of course, classes are still getting harder like Med. Microbiology and Pathophysiology & Pharmacology. Even though classes are tough I do enjoy the subjects and listen to the lectures! I would often ask the professor if I didn’t understand anything and they would always assist me. In Patho & Pharm class we learned a lot about medication and it was fascinating to learn all the big terminology words. Aside from my studies, in my free time, I ran around to participate in art, theater, and dance. This year one of my best accomplishments is forming a K-pop/hip-hop dance club (K.D.C) with some friends. The process of making this club was much longer than I thought it would be. As the vice president of the club I never knew beginning a club would be difficult. But I love the challenges and I was extremely eager to see how it would turn out. I can’t wait to see how this club grows in the future. Also, this fall I was so happy to be part of the play “Alice in Wonderland!” I still couldn’t believe I got the lead role of Alice in this production! Overall this fall was a rollercoaster ride full of challenges and rewarding experiences. I feel like I have gained more independence. I am forever grateful to MVYouth and this community for the support they provide me. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today!
Zach Utz - Middlebury College
Just as I anticipated, my sophomore fall at Middlebury was a blast! I was very happy to get to see my friends and teammates that I hadn’t seen all summer, and to continue my academic and athletic endeavors. As always, the fall foliage was a highlight of my past few months in Vermont, with the red, golden, and orange hues of the maple trees having painted campus in an autumnal hue. This fall was full of important growth, highlighted by both my major and minor declaration! I am now a joint major in Environmental Studies and Biology, and a minor in Anthropology. I am looking forward to growing my skills these subjects as I look towards a future career in the biological sciences and environmental policy. The liberal arts have given me an opportunity to grow my skills in science while considering the humanities, which has allowed me to improve both my analytical and critical thinking skills, helping me grow as a person. Outside of class and studying, most of my time is taken up by training for Cross Country and Track. Although I was injured the majority of the fall Cross Country season and unable to compete in any races, I was lucky enough to be able to join my teammates on some runs and bike rides during which I was able to enjoy Middlebury’s beautiful surroundings. Now that I’m no longer injured, I’m looking forward to competing during my indoor track season in the 800-meter, 1000-meter, Distance Medley Relay, and Mile events! Other than running, my fall was full of hikes, skiing, swimming, and plenty of other outdoor activities. I am so grateful for the opportunities MVYouth has given me in 2023 and I am looking forward to continuing my studies at Middlebury this spring and abroad next fall!
Graham Stearns - Colgate University
So far, my sophomore year has been both demanding and rewarding. This semester I continued exploring academic disciplines and making memories with my friends. I took classes that challenged and expanded my perspectives, participated in club hockey and lacrosse, and joined Colgate’s chapter of Theta Chi. I continued living on campus, or “up the hill,” but spent plenty of time at the chapter house with my brothers. My classes this fall included concepts such as biology, environmentally-focused chemistry, studying the nature of public memory, and African-American studies. This has allowed me to have opportunities like conducting semester-long research projects and working with wildlife in the field. I declared as an Environmental Studies major in the second semester of my freshman year, but I have recently added a minor in Writing in Rhetoric. I plan to continue this track and further develop my interest in writing and environmental preservation. Additionally, I am considering taking classes in psychology as another interest I could pursue. Joining Theta Chi has been an extremely beneficial and valuable experience. I have made countless memories, shared ideas with a diverse group of people, and participated in several philanthropic and community service events. We are determined to give back to our community with small events like passing out candy on Halloween, and also involve ourselves in larger projects, like raising over $7,000 while advocating for mental health this November. I am excited to continue making memories and giving back in the coming semesters. I am so grateful for MVYouth and the opportunity they have given me to attend Colgate University. The staff, donors, and supporters of the program have given me countless experiences that I will never forget.
Marina Pessoni - Cape Cod Community College
My 2023 fall semester has marked a significant turning point in my college journey as I navigated a major shift in my career aspirations. A job opportunity unfolded at a tax services office affiliated with an expanding branch on Martha's Vineyard. This prompted me to redirect my academic focus from Nursing to Business Administration with an Accounting concentration. This job opportunity has compelled me to reevaluate my long-term goals. While Nursing is still a dream, the job opportunity in the tax services office offers a more tangible and immediate career path. This shift aligns with my overarching objective of community service, as the office's expansion to Falmouth creates an opportunity for me to strengthen ties with the Island community. I have a newfound sense of stability to my academic journey, as I can now work steadily while pursuing my studies. The prospect of professional growth is enhanced by the offer of training to become a future tax applier and accountant within the company. To seamlessly integrate work and study, I've opted to switch majors, safeguarding my already earned credits! A collaborative plan has been devised to navigate this dual commitment successfully. This involves professional growth within the tax services office while concurrently delving into the intricacies of business and accounting through online classes. I want to earn a degree while actively contributing to my community! I am profoundly thankful for MVYouth, as their support has made this transformative journey possible. This opportunity for professional and academic growth would not be complete without MVYouth's assistance. The commitment to empowering students like me with the means to pursue their goals has been instrumental in shaping this exciting new chapter of my life. As I embark on this dynamic and rewarding career path, I carry with me a deep gratitude to MVYouth for helping make this vision a reality.
Jonathan Norton - Connecticut College
In my second year at Conn, the fall semester was distinctly different. Excitement marked the start as I fostered connections with the educational studies faculty and delved into varied interests. My course selection, including Critical Educational Theory, Ordinary Differential Equations, Making Music with Computers, and Theory 2: Color and Chromaticism, aligned with my major in Educational Studies and double minors in Music Studies and Mathematics. The liberal arts framework at Conn facilitated exploration without rigid specialization, offering a well-rounded learning experience and fostering valuable connections. Critical Educational Theory emerged as a favorite, aligning with my preference for in-depth understanding. Exploring the "why" behind educational practices deepened my insight, steering me toward the educational policy realm. Motivated to effect change, I applied for and was accepted into the Teach for America Ignite Fellowship, anticipating the opportunity to make a difference. Amid academic pursuits, I continued my athletic journey, seeking success in cross country after a strong track season. However, an unexpected injury sidelined me for the entire season. Despite the disappointment, my academic focus remained unwavering. Gratitude extends to MVYouth for their support, enabling my studies at Conn. Overall, the fall semester at Conn can be characterized by diverse academic engagement, a commitment to understanding educational theory, and a resilient pursuit of goals despite athletic setbacks. The Teach for America Ignite Fellowship adds an exciting dimension to my journey, promising avenues for meaningful impact.
Ruairi Mullin - Brown University
Since last writing an update for MVYouth, I’ve had a great second-semester last spring, a very productive summer working back on the island, and then my best semester yet this fall. During the spring, I took an intro math course and two courses for my planned major, political science. This semester I continued with a math-political science split, taking two courses in each. Later this year, I will formally declare a major and have decided on political science and applied math after discovering that I can and enjoy doing both. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced great professors who have encouraged me to continue in both fields. At every step so far, both professors and students have motivated me to be a better learner and student. The community I am now part of is incredibly supportive and driven to succeed - traits I am grateful for. Outside of academics, I have joined Brown’s club swim team to get back into this sport and stay physically active. So far it's been a great experience and I have been able to compete against other college clubs in the region. The team has been welcoming and highly motivated. With practices five days a week, swimming has kept me busy and helped me stay focused academically as it forces me to manage my time more efficiently. On top of all this, being in Providence continues to be enjoyable, I’ve explored more of what it has to offer, and social life on campus is vibrant with plenty of things to do year-round. This fall has set me on a path I am excited about. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities MVYouth has provided me with and hope to one day give back and have a similar impact as this organization.
Lila Mikos - Syracuse University
Walking on to campus in August, I felt a sense of home and familiarity I had been looking forward to all summer! Returning to school as a sophomore and being able to reunite with my friends and classmates brought me joy and a renewed sense of community. With beautiful upstate New York fall weather, I spent much of my time outdoors in the beginning of the semester on and off campus. I carved out lots of time to take advantage of some State Parks and The New York State Fair. Academically, this semester opened my eyes so much. I began to take classes focused on my major of Public Health. In my favorite class, Community Health Promotions, we spent time working with organizations within the Syracuse community as part of the service learning this class required. I loved learning about the city where I’ve been living and how I can help influence positive changes. Outside of that class, I wanted to find other ways to get involved with the community. My friends and I found a city clean up initiative created by the mayor and spent time on the east side of the city helping to pick up trash and clean up neighborhoods. This was so rewarding as I got to talk to many residents of this area who were grateful for the help and support from S.U. students. It was inspiring to meet the mayor of Syracuse as he came to thank everyone for their efforts! Although I definitely faced academic challenges, I think that this semester helped me grow as a learner and showed me how hard I’m able to work. I’m eternally grateful MVYouth has allowed me to take advantage of these amazing experiences and I’m so excited for what the rest of the year has in store!
Lucas Goncalves - Gordon College
Time has been going by so fast, and I can’t believe I am starting my second semester of my sophomore year. It felt like it was yesterday when I was getting ready to leave for my first year and take on the challenge of Gordon College soccer tryouts. (I ended up making the team, thanks to God). Just like last year, this fall was no different - I had to tackle preseason. I came into the 2023 fall feeling uncertain about the soccer season and school year. The previous coach decided to leave, and it hurt because not only is he a great coach, but he is someone we could all count on outside of soccer. So, the team started the summer off with no coach but with the certainty that we would give our all in the fall. In the end, Gordon found a great head coach and assistant who propelled us to a level that enabled us to play like prime FC Barcelona. Unfortunately, we lost in the quarterfinals to a team we should’ve beaten, but that's the beauty of sports - upsets can happen and anyone can win. In the spring of 2023, I decided to take some business classes to broaden my options, and I’ve always been interested in this field as well as kinesiology. I decided to major in business management because one day I plan on owning or helping people manage the right way. I still enjoy kinesiology, and I haven’t decided on a minor yet, so that is a possibility. In the near future I plan on participating in Gordon’s mission trips. Everyone who has gone has said that it is an unforgettable experience, and I would like to go on one before I graduate. All in all, I am extremely grateful for MVYouth and everyone who participates in making everything possible.
Sam Fetters - Amherst College
As a second-year student at Amherst College I feel I came into my own. Thanks to the open curriculum at Amherst, I am well on my way to triple majoring in Computer Science, History and Political Science with classes in Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Petro States and Stalin this fall. Over the summer I was awarded an undergraduate research fellowship with an Amherst professor. We studied virtual memory and compression algorithms, which culminated in a large presentation at a college-wide symposium. Over the fall semester, I was a TA for a Data Structures course in the computer science department. While it was certainly a refresher on the material, I really enjoyed teaching other students, and helping them with the material. Next semester I am registered for 20th Century Japan, Collapse and Revolution: Fall of the Soviet Union, New Cold Wars, and a Spanish class to get ready for a Fall 2024 semester abroad in Spain. I continue to be part of Quiz Bowl, Model UN, and Running Club through which I have met so many great people. I reached my goal of running a marathon, placing 4th in the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon in May 2023, and qualifying for the Boston Marathon in April 2024. Then, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2023, coming in 31st overall and 4th in my division in a field of over 14,000 runners. Running means the world to me and helps me manage the academic demands of Amherst with a physical outlet that has proven very positive for my mental health and social life. I’m thankful for MVYouth’s support and confidence in me over the past two years, and can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.
Jessie Dlabaj - Clemson University
This past fall semester has been a different experience than that of my freshman year. While it has been challenging, I have continued to grow as a person and a student. This semester I changed my major from Biological Science to Mechanical Engineering. I realized I no longer had the drive for a future in the biology field, but I had a newfound interest in engineering. While this transition has been demanding, I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction into the field of engineering and look forward to my future as an engineer! This semester I also became a math tutor for Clemson’s Academic Success Center. I worked around eight hours a week tutoring Calculus One students. This has been a wonderful opportunity as I have built connections with my fellow peer leaders and with my students. It has also required me to improve upon my time management, leadership, and communication skills which will better prepare me for my future. I did not realize how much I would build a relationship with the students I have tutored. I would have many of the same people return each week and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them over the semester. I plan on tutoring again in the spring and I am excited to have this opportunity again. Overall, I have had an amazing fall semester and I am so grateful I have found where I am supposed to be at Clemson University. I have come back to campus more established and ready to tackle new obstacles and opportunities. I have been fortunate enough to live off campus with two of my closest friends. This has also been a few sources of responsibility, but I have enjoyed the freedom and ability to make my own food! All of this would not be possible without the MVYouth, so thank you for all that you do!
Lucas da Silva - Upper Cape Tech
Hi. I’m Lucas da Silva. I'm 20 years old. I graduated two years ago. I had the opportunity to receive a scholarship from MVYouth, fulfilling my dream to become an electrician. I've been studying and working in the profession for two years. I'm very grateful for all these moments and learning. Lately it's been much more complex but it's also been more exciting being exposed to new areas. In June this year I got married, and moved to a house . Everything has been new and challenging, but that's me. I love being exposed to new things to always be going to the next level. It is a responsible lifestyle that we must have after we graduate because sometimes it is not easy to make the right choice. That is why I always like to look at challenges “with patience and reason” never emotion. I am really very grateful for what life has taught me and I am very grateful for this program that helped me not leave my dream in vain and saw that I was willing to make a dream come true. Over these two years it has been a lot of dedication, working a lot, having a lot of experiences working in a lot of different places, such as school, industrial and much more. This year 2024 I will be going to my third year of school and third year of work. It's been a very productive year and I'm really looking forward to the new experiences that this year will bring.
Alison Custer - Connecticut College
My second fall at Connecticut College has been busy, but amazing. I came into this year ready to solidify my Majors, and apply for what Conn calls “Integrative Pathways”. Last Spring I declared my Major in Dance and this Fall I decided on my second Major called American Studies, an interdisciplinary major that will allow me to study Government, Psychology, and Environmental Studies. I was also accepted into the Social Justice and Sustainability Pathway where I will explore issues I am passionate about by intentionally combining interdisciplinary coursework with off-campus learning experiences, and work with faculty and advisers to develop an animating question that is meaningful to me. I look forward to beginning my Thematic Inquiry course for the Social Justice and Sustainability Pathway and building deeper relationships with Social Justice Organizations in New London. I worked on developing the Sunrise Movement Chapter (a climate justice organization) on campus and organizing events for that. I was also in two dance concerts, one for Dance Club where I choreographed a piece, as well as performed, and the most recent Department Concert. I had the opportunity to work with David Dorfman and also Guest Artist Ronald K. Brown of Evidence Dance Company. This was such an incredible experience learning from such an icon in the dance world. The piece we learned and performed was originally set on the Alvin Ailey Company, so there was a lot of pressure, but their guidance, wisdom, and support were valuable and I wouldn’t change that experience for the world. I have also begun planning my application for studying abroad next fall, hopefully in Copenhagen or London based on the programs I have found. I have taken many valuable courses, learned and grown boundlessly, found so much joy, and built so many important relationships at Connecticut College so far. I cannot wait to continue. I could not have done this without MVYouth. The support has meant so much to my family and me, and I cannot thank MVYouth enough. I am forever grateful.
Isabella Clarke - Brown University
My third semester at Brown University has been an enriching experience. The environment here is academically demanding yet very supportive as well. The open curriculum has allowed me to explore my psychology major and delve into law, notably in Constitutional Law, where we covered 83 Supreme Court cases. Additionally, I was accepted into the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, dedicating two hours weekly to learning immigration law. This spring, I'll engage in community organizing and work on immigration cases with an attorney. This opportunity allowed me to apply the skills I’ve learned in my psychology courses when discussing the painful experiences the asylees had endured in their home country. Given Brown's absence of a law school or pre-law program, I've connected with other pre-law students. Serving as Vice President of the Black Pre-Law Association and secretary for the Women’s Pre-Law Association, I'm planning a trip to visit law schools in Washington DC and gaining insights into law school admissions from Brown alums. Next semester, I'm taking Abnormal Psychology, Statistics, Africana Studies, and Political Science. Though this fall was academically challenging, I anticipate a balanced workload in the upcoming term. I will be juggling coursework, two leadership roles, and four internships. In addition to my two internships via the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, I will also intern at Thrive Behavioral Health and the Rhode Island State Government. At Thrive, I will apply my psychology knowledge to interview clients about their mental health. I will also be able to shadow different departments within the mental hospital. For the Rhode Island State government internship, I will work within the Governor’s municipal office drafting legislation. These internships promise to deepen my understanding of psychology and law, offering insights into potential career paths. I am grateful for MVYouth's support, which has provided me access to the myriad opportunities available at Brown, and I look forward to creating more memorable experiences next semester.