Image

Not everyone gets to attend their first-choice school, but sometimes that is exactly what they need. This happened to be the case with Bella and the University of Massachusetts. She has always been a very ambitious person who had initially set her sights on smaller and more selective schools. Part of her was disappointed upon rejection from her other top picks, but at the same time, as “an in-state student, affordability was something that I was really looking for. Paying a lot of money for a private school was just not optimal.” So Bella set her sights on Amherst.

Upon her arrival, Bella quickly solidified a strong community for herself. It is not always easy to navigate the fast-paced social life of the first year of college. The size of her school allowed Bella to create a friend group that suited her personality and interests in a way she never could have done earlier. “I was able kind of pick and choose what I look for in friendships and what I look for in my circle," Bella explained, which is not really a luxury that we got in high school and in middle school.” She feels that at UMass, “The people are very special… They have distinct experiences and personalities that make UMass a really great place to learn and thrive in and discover who I am.” 

With this unique group behind her, she pursued lofty goals and built a densely packed schedule. Along with her peers, Bella founded Kappa Alpha Pi, a co-ed fraternity for pre-law students. There, she strengthened her friendships while bringing her career forward in the process.

In addition, Bella furthered her love of journalism through her work with the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, the UMass campus newspaper. She began her time there as a reporter and worked her way up to being an investigative editor.

Bella keeps herself busy in the classroom as well, majoring in both political science and economics. On top of this, she has a minor in information technology. She combines these skills not only to advance her future in law but to develop her interests. This is most evident looking at her role as a research assistant at the University of Massachusetts School of Public Policy, where she is wrapping up a project on global legal politics in the Middle and Near East.

Yet another activity Bella has gotten involved with is working as a tour guide for UMass. There, she tells ambitious prospective Minutemen like she once was about the myriad pathways that can only be found at a big school. “Coming here made me realize that this is the place for me… I needed a big environment, professors who are always willing to help. There are so many opportunities here.”