What is your major and why did you choose it?
I am majoring in Neuroscience. I chose this specific major because of my love and passion for the human brain and its very unique functions. In high school, I discovered my interest in psychology and wanted to dive deeper, and so neuroscience was that deep end that I was searching for.
How has life changed for you during this pandemic?
COVID-19 has had very serious impacts worldwide. When we first learned about the pandemic and went into lockdown back in March, I was working in the hospital where I saw the pandemic's most severe effects. I had never seen so many people suffering at once and afraid of what was to come. I would say that COVID-19 definitely changed me in a way that forced me to become a more mindful person, placing others before myself. At work, I focused on the patients I had interactions with; at home, I valued the time I spent with my family before moving to college.
How is distance learning going for you? What are you most worried and hopeful about?
Distance learning has its pros and cons. Only two of my classes were fully online while my other three were a mix of in-class and via Zoom. The classes that were online were definitely harder to grow in academically; however, it was not impossible. For my spring semester courses that will be taught via zoom, whether it be synchronously or asynchronously, I am worried about not being able to learn and dive deep into the material as I would be able to in a classroom where COVID-19 has no influences. However, I am hopeful that my professors, classmates, and I will do our best to work together to reach our fullest potentials.
What does being a first-generation college student mean to you?
To me, being a first-generation student means that while my academic success may be harder to achieve because of the obstacles that I am faced with, I am capable of reaching it. This is not to place blame on my parents for not going to college-- they did not have the privilege of growing up with their education at the top of their priorities. They did everything and more for my siblings and me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
What would you say to donors who are consistently giving to CV and making this resource available to you?
To the donors that are constantly giving to College Visions and removing the obstacles that come my way when thinking about my education, a simple "thank you" is not enough. To you, it means being selfless; to me, it means defying the systems that are in place that make it harder for students like me to succeed; it means you recognize our struggles and are uncomfortable with them and want to help us destroy them; it means taking the step that we were unable to because of financial limitations and other barriers. Please understand that your help acts as the foundation to our success as well as what fuels it. Your help is greatly appreciated by my peers and me. Thank you.
JASON is attending Boston College and will graduate in May of 2024.
