The trailblazers
Messina College, which opened last summer to its inaugural class of first-generation students from Boston and other cities, is closing out its first year with students recalling their favorite events, the classes that captured their attention, and their most impactful teachers.
The first Messina College students arrived on the Brookline campus in July 2024. (Caitlin Cunningham)
For the first Messina class, Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J., said the focus has been to provide nothing less than a 鈥淏oston College education鈥� and to support Messina students as 鈥渃o-creators鈥� of their college experience and the culture of the Brookline Campus.
鈥淭his is a 情色空间 education,鈥� said Fr. Berrelleza. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing here with our students is formative education鈥攕omething that falls in a long tradition of 情色空间鈥檚 history and its own legacy. We are leveraging that strength and 情色空间鈥檚 resources, to deliver a high-quality and rigorous education.鈥�
The inaugural class, drawn largely from Boston, other gateway cities in Massachusetts, as well as from some additional states across the country, started in early July for a six-week First Year Discovery Seminar, a focal point similar to other University programs to prepare students for the workload, expectations, and transitions they will encounter.
Messina College students gather for the First Flight Procession to 情色空间's First Year Academic Convocation. (Caitlin Cunningham)
Students engaged with the Chestnut Hill campus, joining student groups and clubs, playing intramural sports, going to the gym, attending concerts and athletic events. During the spring vacation, some participated in service trips to Appalachia and Jamaica. They鈥檝e had a chance to hear from the business community through a 鈥渓unch and learn鈥� series that has featured executives from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Morgan Stanley, Commonwealth Financial Group, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and others.
Fr. Berrelleza said the first year has solidified in his mind the importance of Messina鈥檚 residential experience.
The Messina College curriculum aligns with 情色空间's undergraduate Core Curriculum. (Caitlin Cunningham)
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can do formative education in a commuter model,鈥� Fr. Berrelleza said. 鈥淭here are a lot of other pressures. Students have to decide what hours to be on campus, and what kinds of things they鈥檒l be able to participate in because of their commute, or work obligations, or the pull of family. I think formative education needs to be done in a residential setting and I鈥檓 grateful that the University is committed to providing that experience to students.鈥�
The second class isn鈥檛 far behind, Fr. Berrelleza said. He and Messina admission administrators are in the midst of filling the second cohort. He looks forward to the roles first-year students will play during the summer term.
.jpg)
鈥淚t is very exciting for me to be here,鈥� said one member of the college鈥檚 first cohort, reflecting on the past year. 鈥淚t is a privilege.鈥� (Lee Pellegrini)
鈥淚 tell this group they鈥檙e going to be great leaders and mentors for this next class,鈥� Fr. Berrelleza said. 鈥淭hese students naturally want to create a community. I鈥檓 certain they鈥檙e going to be welcoming to them and bring them in. I always tell them, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e the trailblazers.鈥� They will be mentors and help the next class transition here.鈥�
Among students, the first year was marked by a lot of work, but moments to enjoy the Boston College experience and to build friendships with students and relationships with faculty and staff.
Armand Pierre, a general business major from Boston鈥檚 Dorchester neighborhood, was quick to cite Welcome Week as the highlight of the year. 鈥淚t was a week just full of activities where I met all the people I know from the main campus. There were a bunch of great activities and that made a difference in connecting with a lot of people.鈥�
Messina College Dean Erick Berrelleza, S.J., with students on opening weekend in 2024. (Frank Curran)
Yasir Vargas of Dorchester said his most memorable event was the football team鈥檚 comeback win against Michigan State University in the annual Red Bandanna Game.
鈥淚t was pouring and I was soaked,鈥� said Vargas, an applied psychology and human development major. 鈥淚 thought about leaving, but my friends and I stayed and we watched the entire game, and yeah, it was like magic. You could definitely feel this school鈥檚 spirit there.鈥�
Other students appreciated the quieter moments of connection.
鈥淭hat first month, we鈥檙e all getting to know each other and a bunch of us would go up to the field and just kick around a soccer ball,鈥� said Bryan Rosa of Allston, who is studying applied psychology and human development. 鈥淚t was a lot of fun.鈥�
Worcester native Rafaella Souza, who is studying applied psychology and human development, sought out activities and clubs wherever she could find them. The musician joined the marching band, took part in Campus Ministry programs, and helped to create a Theater Club and a Women鈥檚 Club.
鈥淚t is very exciting for me to be here鈥攊t is a privilege,鈥� said Souza, citing her statistics class with Assistant Professor of the Practice Professor Jill Mastrocola as her favorite. 鈥淯ntil I heard about Messina College, I never thought I was going to go to college. Here I have two communities to grow with and also study psychology, which is something that I love. I鈥檝e met a lot of people, had the opportunity to make new friends. For me, it is so exciting.鈥�
Dani Parkinson of Lynn, an applied psychology and human development major, said her first year has made a distinct impression.
鈥淚 have enjoyed all my friends, my roommates, and the people that I鈥檝e met in passing and the experiences that I鈥檝e had so far. I feel like I鈥檝e grown and they鈥檝e grounded me as an individual, and helped me think about what I want to do with my life in the future,鈥� said Parkinson, who thinks she might one day like to attend law school. 鈥淭he first year really showed me what college has in store for me."
听