Immediately after high school, Teresa Pina left Boston and went to school out of state, but after one semester, she made the decision to return home. For a while, she was considering not pursuing higher education at all, but eventually her desire to go back to school drew her to Alray. Under the mentorship of Alray Board Chair, Neil Swidey, Teresa finished her bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts Boston, and then went on to complete a nursing degree at Bunker Hill Community College. Teresa began her healthcare career by working in the supplies department in Mass General’s Hospital emergency room while working on her second degree in nursing at the same time.
Still, Teresa finds time to give back to the Alray program. She will be joining the Alray board in June and currently serves on the applications committee. Teresa enjoys being able to interact with other students who are considering going back to school. Since there is so much emphasis on the first time student, Teresa appreciates being involved with a program that specifically supports returning students like herself through scholarship and mentorship, saying “Alray looks after students who have been forgotten sometimes.” As someone who has been through the program, Teresa appreciates the ability to represent Alray on the applications committee, saying, “I feel connected to the applicants, and I think they feel connected to me.”
When considering applications, Teresa looks to see how applicants have grown. She wants students to identify what they struggled with in the past and how things are going to be different this time around, saying, “That insight is really what’s going to help them be the student who succeeds.”
