“-when you have a dream, you go after it — I’m proof that you can do it.”💪🎓 Meet Danna Garcia of Ashland, MA, who has been selected to deliver the Student Commencement Address at MassBay’s 63rd Commencement. She will be graduating with an Associate of Science Degree in General Studies, Science. Danna grew up in Colombia and moved to Boston at 15. After graduating from Newton North High School, she enrolled at MassBay while juggling the responsibilities of being a single mother and a full-time teacher. While at MassBay, she earned spots on the Dean’s List and President’s List and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. She plans to transfer to Northeastern University or Boston College to pursue a degree in biology, with hopes of attending medical school or working in medical research. Learn more about Danna's journey at massbay.edu/news 🔗 #MassBayGrad #StudentSpeaker #MassBayProud #PhiThetaKappa #WomenInSTEM #SingleMomStrong #DreamBig #Classof2025 (fb)

From Ecuador to Early Childhood Education: Maribel Carvajal's Journey to the American Dream For Maribel Carvajal, MassBay’s 2025 graduation marks the completion of a journey more than 20 years in the making — and the fulfillment of a dream. Originally from Ecuador, Maribel came to the U.S. in February 2001, driven by love and the hope of building a better future. Through MassBay’s Career Pathways program, a Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care grant program that provides funds for students who qualify to take classes and earn their degrees, and with the support of mentors like Professors Rita Rzezuski and Linda Romero in MassBay’s Early Childhood program, Maribel found the guidance and resources she needed to earn her degree. “I had tears in my eyes when I finished,” she says. “Thank you, Career Pathways for helping me get it done.” Maribel leads not by authority, but by compassion. “Leadership is not about commanding — it’s about inspiring from the heart,” she says. “When you do what you love and lead with empathy, you leave a mark that changes lives. Purposeful, passionate leadership builds community, ignites talent, and plants seeds of hope. The world needs more leaders who lead with love.” “I don’t have family here—it was hard. You don’t understand the language, and you miss home. But little by little you understand that you are here for a purpose and for a dream,” Maribel reflects. “I felt the love at MassBay, and I want to keep going. This is proof of what America is about—it’s the land of opportunities when you share your heart and work hard. God is in control, and He opens doors.” 🔗 Learn more about Maribel's story: https://tinyurl.com/mbcc-maribel (fb)