马塞诸斯州大学波士顿

As Ciara Ham graduates from the College of Management this week with her master’s degree in business administration, she is already making plans to start a nonprofit that provides resources to marginalized communities. It’s a cause that’s close to her heart. 

出生于南波士顿, Ham grew up in Boston Public 住房, attending Boston Public 学校, and shared that coming from a marginalized community meant access to resources and opportunities were limited.  

“然而, 因为澳门新葡新京官方, I am now the first in my family to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree and the first to attend graduate school and receive a master’s degree,哈姆说。.  

Ham started her journey at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 as an undergraduate studying business management accounting and quickly became involved in various initiatives and programs across campus.  

Over the course of her undergraduate studies, Ham volunteered her time with the Strong Women Strong Girls program, which provides mentorship and leadership opportunities to young girls from underserved communities. She joined the student advisory board advocating for student needs, and participated in focus groups for the Ross Center for Disability Services to help improve support services for students.  

作为一名研究生, Ham was a teacher’s assistant in the College of Management, supporting and mentoring students through their own academic journeys.  

“Ciara is a natural born leader,” said Joyce Sangrey Morgan, director of the Ross Center, wrote in her nomination letter. “Ciara is a proud first-generation college student who showed a remarkable amount of resourcefulness and tenacity to pursue her education. Even when faced with challenges, she remained resilient and motivated.” 

除了学生之外, Ham is a birth Doula at the Boston Medical Center where she provides emotional and physical support to marginalized mothers during pregnancy and labor. 毕业后, in addition to spending quality time with her two sons, she’s looking forward to opening her own Doula business. 

“During my time at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿, I learned that my passion is giving back. It’s what I’m most comfortable doing,”她说。. “Now that I have the knowledge, 教育, 还有经验, I'm looking forward to giving back.” 

Ham said she was initially interested in attending 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 after taking a tour on campus and feeling like she could fit into the culturally diverse campus community. Growing up in a similar environment, she said the diversity made her feel at home, and that her favorite part about being a Beacon is the friendships she made with people who came from all over the world. 

“I have friends from Ukraine, 堪萨斯, and India – so many different perspectives and outlooks,”她说。. “I’ve met some of the greatest people at 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 from faculty and students.” 

From the food pantry to the Healy Library and IT Services, Ham praised the numerous resources 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 offers students and believes the university stands by its mission to support students from all walks of life. She encourages students to identify their own strengths and weaknesses and consider what resources the university has available to help fill the gaps. 

“I think 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 really believes in students like me–the first gen, the troubled backgrounds–they look out for us, 他们帮助我们,”她说。. “Any time I needed it, the help was there. 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 is the reason I am who I am.” 

Ham recently represented South Boston as a finalist in the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant and used the platform to share her story and inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a difference in their communities. Ham’s passion for helping others reach their potential is motivated by the help she received during her own academic journey. 

“A lot of people that come from my position face discouragement but if you have that one person that helps you, it’ll literally change your whole life,”她说。. “I view myself as a token of hope. I try to be that voice to help people, support them, and guide them in the right direction.” 

Ham said she feels honored to have been chosen as the graduate student speaker and she’s excited for her sons to see her on stage on commencement day. Her speech will serve as encouragement for students to always keep trying and to not be afraid of asking for help. 

“I live by the phrase ‘You don’t fail unless you stop trying’. Use literally every resource 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 has to offer,”她说。. “I really appreciate 马塞诸斯州大学波士顿 – they changed my life.”