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 “Boston College education” and to support Messina students as “co-creators” of their college experience and the culture of the Brookline Campus.
“This is a BC education,” said Fr. Berrelleza. “What we’re doing here with our students is formative education—something that falls in a long tradition of BC’s history and its own legacy. We are leveraging that strength and BC’s resources, to deliver a high-quality and rigorous education.”
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 BC'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’ve had a chance to hear from the business community through a “lunch and learn” 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’s residential experience.
The Messina College curriculum aligns with BC's undergraduate Core Curriculum. (Caitlin Cunningham)
“I don’t think you can do formative education in a commuter model,” Fr. Berrelleza said. “There are a lot of other pressures. Students have to decide what hours to be on campus, and what kinds of things they’ll 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’m grateful that the University is committed to providing that experience to students.”
The second class isn’t 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.
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“It is very exciting for me to be here,” said one member of the college’s first cohort, reflecting on the past year. “It is a privilege.” (Lee Pellegrini)
“I tell this group they’re going to be great leaders and mentors for this next class,” Fr. Berrelleza said. “These students naturally want to create a community. I’m certain they’re going to be welcoming to them and bring them in. I always tell them, ‘You’re the trailblazers.’ They will be mentors and help the next class transition here.”
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’s Dorchester neighborhood, was quick to cite Welcome Week as the highlight of the year. “It 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.”
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’s comeback win against Michigan State University in the annual Red Bandanna Game.
“It was pouring and I was soaked,” said Vargas, an applied psychology and human development major. “I 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’s spirit there.”
Other students appreciated the quieter moments of connection.
“That first month, we’re all getting to know each other and a bunch of us would go up to the field and just kick around a soccer ball,” said Bryan Rosa of Allston, who is studying applied psychology and human development. “It was a lot of fun.”
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’s Club.
“It is very exciting for me to be here—it is a privilege,” said Souza, citing her statistics class with Assistant Professor of the Practice Professor Jill Mastrocola as her favorite. “Until 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’ve met a lot of people, had the opportunity to make new friends. For me, it is so exciting.”
Dani Parkinson of Lynn, an applied psychology and human development major, said her first year has made a distinct impression.
“I have enjoyed all my friends, my roommates, and the people that I’ve met in passing and the experiences that I’ve had so far. I feel like I’ve grown and they’ve grounded me as an individual, and helped me think about what I want to do with my life in the future,” said Parkinson, who thinks she might one day like to attend law school. “The first year really showed me what college has in store for me."