Growing Through Opportunity

When she was looking at colleges, Rachel had applied to two schools—but the only place she really wanted to go was Anna Maria. Rachel’s goal is to work with kids in hospitals, and she wanted a broader major to prepare her for more diverse career options in the medical field. She liked that Anna Maria had a general health science program, and when she visited the campus it felt right to her—like home.

“Being part of such a close community has made a huge impact on me. I used to be really shy, but I made a promise to myself to get involved when I got to Anna Maria. I have definitely come out of my shell here, and ended up finding a lot of confidence I didn’t even know I had.”

For Rachel, one of the greatest advantages of studying at Anna Maria is that the professors are actually working in their fields. She appreciates that their information is current and they are connected to what is going on in their industries. Professors are always willing to share their experiences and help with networking and internship opportunities. Rachel is currently taking advantage of one such opportunity as an intern at a biotech lab in Worcester.

“I love that my classes directly relate to what I am doing in a research lab, for actual customers who expect results. It’s so gratifying to learn something in class and then have the opportunity to apply it in real life.”