Bryn Hennigar
"Going beyond my bubble to experience the world outside of UMass is important to me."
CESL Program: Impact, Community Scholars Program, Certificate in Civic Engagement and Public Service
Major: Psychology and Public Health
Working with people with disabilities at Whole Children in Hadley has completely changed how I look at just about everything I learn at UMass. It has given me a different lens because I feel that disability is rarely talked about, especially at the university level. I’m always considering different frameworks with this lens, including intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. It has been really cool to develop a new perspective on these issues.
My work with Whole Children directly connects to my majors and my research. Going beyond my bubble to experience the world outside of UMass is important to me. My work with Whole Children started through Impact during my first year at UMass, and now it’s also my placement for the Citizen Scholars Program (CSP). I’m also earning the certificate in civic engagement and public service. In Impact and CSP, there’s a very strong sense of community. I appreciate being in a classroom that’s more than just a classroom. It’s a safe learning community where we really can explore difficult topics. I have community at Whole Children, and then I also have community in the classroom.