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“I love art, and still do, but I quickly realized that this was not what I wanted to pursue as a career,” said Nathan. “I returned home to take a gap year and find answers in the midst of my indecision, hoping to find direction with the weight of tuition off of my shoulders.”

Their thought was to transfer to ����ԭ�� and figure out the next step. Living near the ����ԭ�� Framingham campus, Nathan’s mom mentioned the MassEducate program, where community college is free to eligible students who have not already earned a bachelor’s degree.

“I thought this was a great opportunity to return to school. When I came to ����ԭ��, I didn’t have any initial impressions, but I knew I would have the academic freedom to find what I wanted to do. I was immediately drawn to pursue life sciences not only because of its novelty, but because of the answers it provided to my curiosity,” said Nathan.

After taking a few classes while working, Nathan decided to attend full time and immerse themselves in the college environment.

“Professor Denise Grant was my first introduction to STEM at ����ԭ��. She is so wonderfully energetic, she inspired my commitment to this field. She created an atmosphere that sparked my curiosity and accepted further questioning. This provided me with a space to learn and grow, and it’s not only teaching me about science, but helping me grow into the person I am,” Nathan said.

Since coming to ����ԭ��, Nathan has become part of the STEM Mentor program, joined the Biotechnology Innovation Club, serves as an embedded tutor for biology, and is a peer tutor in the Academic Achievement Center for biology and chemistry. They are also part of the Achieve Ignite Mentor (AIM) program with Sanofi, have participated in the Sanofi Experiential Learning Opportunity (SELO) program, and now serve as an ambassador for the SELO program.

Nathan says these STEM opportunities have provided valuable networking experience and insights into real-world applications they would not have received anywhere else.

“I’m currently applying for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, and my mentor from the Sanofi AIM program has given me great advice for both my REU and college applications. Having someone to talk with who has both postdoctoral research experience and biotechnology industry knowledge has been extremely valuable. Changing my path from an art degree to STEM was a huge pivot, and my time at ����ԭ�� has provided me with insight I wouldn’t otherwise have had to help me through the process,” added Nathan.

Nathan has earned a place on the President’s List every semester, currently holds a 3.9 GPA, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. They graduated in May from ����ԭ�� with an associate in science degree in Life Science and plan to transfer to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry or molecular biology before working toward a graduate degree.

“����ԭ�� is a very accepting environment. I have made lots of friends with non-linear academic paths of varying identities and backgrounds. Each interaction highlights the actions we have taken to take our lives into our own hands. The diversity of the community feels empowering, walking in the halls everyday provides confidence that I am taking steps in the right direction. My future is to be determined, but ����ԭ�� has taught me to cherish the opportunities I have, and I will continue to advocate for myself and make the most of every moment. I have enjoyed the process, and I’m on the right path, right where I’m meant to be. What I do in the future will definitely change, but I will continue to put myself in as many opportunities as I can.”