My name is Jason and I am currently a junior at Boston College. I am majoring in English with a minor in American Studies. I enjoy reading, writing, and running around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir (just a short walk from Lower Campus) in my free time. My time at Boston College has been a transformative experience that has brought me out of my shell and has opened me up to a wide variety of opportunities.

Hometown

South River, New Jersey

Major(s)

English

Minor(s)

American Studies

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Club Running

Describe your college experience

My college experience has been pretty good overall. My freshman year was tough, though. Being in a new environment far from home with a larger workload was overwhelming at times. Though as the fall semester closed, and I met more people and found my rhythm, college began to get easier and become more fun. My sophomore year, I began to work as an RA, and I became close to my co-RAs, while receiving a fun and fulfilling work experience that paid for the vast majority of my college that year. Some of my favorite memories as a student have been running the Red Bandana 5k, late night hockey games, exploring Boston, and, despite the difficulty at times, late night studying with friends.

Tip for future students

Don’t inhibit yourself during your freshman year. Put yourself out there and meet new people. Even as an introvert, I found college much more manageable when I was talking to people and taking breaks, even in spite of heavy workloads. BC students oftentimes come from high academic stress backgrounds, but that doesn’t mean you cannot let yourself relax and take breaks. Join clubs, see the city, meet people on your floor, but also get some sleep and take care of yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Favorite class

My favorite class, despite not being a particularly religious individual has been “The Everlasting Covenant: The Hebrew Bible.” The professor truly made the class, and he introduced biblical stories and modern religious practices in a way that was easily digestible for students with a limited religious background. The focus of the class was primarily historical and discussed the various influences the Bible has on the modern day and the influences of the Ancient Near East upon the Bible, as reflected in the characters and stories throughout the Old Testament.

Career goals

I hope to continue my education in grad school, preferably BC or some other school in the Boston area and pursue a career in higher education as a professor.

Ideal way to spend a free night

For me the ideal way to spend a free night would be to go to a late night BC hockey game with my friends. Despite being an introvert, the high energy environment and fast paced game is a great way of bonding with your fellow students and letting out much needed stress after a long week of classes. Other great places to check out are in the city, like the North End, Boston Commons (ice skating is great in the winter), and, if you can, catching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

High school or secondary school

South River High School

Favorite spot on campus

Stokes Amphitheater and Bapst Library are some of the most picturesque spots on campus and incredible places to study and get work done. When the weather is nice, finding a shady tree at the amphitheater is an enjoyable reading spot where you feel the sun, the fresh air, and hear the birds sing after being inside for classes all day. Just off of campus, though, there is the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, a frequented spot Boston College student runners, and a great place to get fresh air and enjoy nature.