Post-graduation plans: Lydia will be starting as a research assistant at the Center for Social Development and Education at UMass Boston. Following that experience, she intends to attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in psychology.
Major: Psychology
Key experiences: Lydia describes herself as more cautious before collegesafety pronebut shes been supported here in ways that have pushed her growth. Ive learned a lot about myself. Ive found friends that I really love here, friends that I connected with in ways Id never found before, she says. And her academic advisors have supported her as well, in not only my academic but also my personal life.
What she's taking with her as she prepares to graduate: "As I move forward, Ill probably feel more comfortable in new situations; trying new things, falling in love with different things that I never thought Id experience.
"If I could tell my past self one thing, I think Id tell her to trust her instincts and take more risksbreak out of your shell! Be okay with failing! Get back on the horse and try again."
Hometown: Medford, Massachusetts.