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Shawna Russo
East Boston High School &
Bunker Hill Community College

Education: Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, Tufts University, 2009

Why did you join the College Advising Corps? This opportunity was amazing for me because it was the chance to make a real difference after graduation in the Boston community, which I have grown to love during my past four years at Tufts. The CAC was my opportunity to do work that truly impacts the community around me. It is an invaluable experience to be able to provide these students with guidance during this stressful and, often, bewildering process.

How are individual students affected by this program? Students are affected immensely by this program, whether it is having access to accurate and timely information for the first time or being encouraged to follow their dreams of going to college. Our guidance and advice regarding college is often the only resource these students have for following their post-secondary plans to higher education.

Why is it important to create a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? It is crucial that high school students who have not previously been exposed to higher education get a good idea of what it looks like and what it means to them. The work that we do at our partner campuses in conjunction with our high schools is very important for our students so they can see themselves at college. This vision will hopefully help encourage them to apply to college and will affect them more personally having seen a college campus and its students with their own eyes.

What are the benefits of creating a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? Partnerships between high schools and college campuses allow for a greater amount of resources available to the high school and its students. Whether it is the chance to meet college students, go to an event or visit at the college, or taking a course at the college, a college campus provides a wealth of resources for high school students.

How is your greater school community affected by this program? East Boston High School is an environment that encourages students to apply to college. College posters and pennants cover the halls of the school. There are a number of college access programs here that serve as additional resources for students at East Boston. The College Advising Corps concentrates solely on college admissions in contrast to other organizations that focus on other aspects of post-secondary plans. Students here can sit and talk with me for a couple hours about the college admissions process. This is a service that no other organization provides at East Boston. The CAC represents a vital resource and support mechanism for students.

Why should there be so much emphasis on college access and the opportunity for higher education? The opportunities that students can have on a college campus and with a college degree are endless. A college degree can be their route to a better paying job and having a job doing something that matters to them. Life doesn’t have to be an endless drudgery of working in jobs that hold no value or meaning for the student (aside from a salary.) the time spent in college and earning a degree is absolutely critical for students to truly learn about themselves and find what inspires them.