

From Mattapoisett to UMass

Going to college is a major learning experience, especially if you come from a small town to a big state school. This is what happened to Mary Butler, who left her hometown of Mattapoisett to come to University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Coming from a town “with one stop light and one Dunkin’ Donuts,” Mary felt she needed somewhere that had all types of opportunities around every corner. At UMass she “loved the fact that I could study any combination of my interests and explore educational and extracurricular activities that were meaningful to me.” So she took a leap of faith and chose a school with triple the residents of her whole hometown.

Upon arriving at UMass, things were intimidating for Mary but she quickly found her stride. It was strange being on her own for the first time in her life, but Mary was able to adjust by “accepting the fact that all college students are going through a transition.” Reminding herself that “freshman year is a universal experience of trying new things and meeting new people really helped me get comfortable,” she said. And with that attitude, Mary was able to meet new people and find a good group of friends. For any new students in that same position, Mary suggests, “say hi to everyone and take the opportunity to connect and learn from people who are different from yourself. I am so grateful for all the interesting people I have met at UMass.”
One way that Mary realized her potential at UMass was through exploring the countless extracurricular options available. She expanded her network by participating in Isenberg Women in Business, where she connects with other business majors and is guided toward career success. To stay active and build passionate friendships, Mary joined the club lacrosse team. To give back and serve, Mary takes part in UMass Amherst Special Olympics. “By trying these clubs out and seeing what ‘stuck’ I was able to create multiple mini-communities across the large campus,” she explained.
Mary’s experiences at UMass have brought her a long way from her small-town origins and prepared her for life after college. In the time that she has been here she “discovered through trial and error what I do and don’t have interests in learning, what type of job I’m interested in pursuing, and how I learn best. Most importantly I have learned to advocate for myself and use my resources to be the best student/lifetime learner possible.”