Bottom Line

                Idaliana Medina               Alum & Career Counselor

Q: What is your experience as an alum now working at Bottom Line?

A: “I think as an alum of Bottom Line who came back to work for the organization, I realize how important the work that Bottom Line does is. As a student, I’m sure I didn’t always come to meetings (Sorry, Yorky, Ali and Michelle) or I didn’t listen to what my counselor had to say. I realize now that they were just looking out for me, and they had my best interest in mind. It feels good to be working for the company that helped me become who I am today.”

Q: What advice do you have for Bottom Line Alumni?

A: “Take advantage of the services that Bottom Line offers to alumni! We have a lot of connections with different companies and are always posting new jobs on our hiring board. These can definitely help you in your careers! We also have alumni events that are great for reconnecting with your fellow alumni and for networking! Take advantage!”

Melissa Pena
Alumni Board Member

Why I am proud to be a Bottom Line Alum … 

“When I reflect on all I have accomplished to this day, I feel a sense of appreciation in my heart knowing all of the support I received along the way. Throughout high school and college, my support system not only consisted of an amazing group of family and friends, but also of incredible organizations such as Bottom Line.”

What advice I have for Bottom Line Alumni … 

“My advice for alumni is to continuously dream bigger, take risks, share wisdom gained through experiences and sacrifices made, and expand your reach by paying it forward. There is always a generation to learn from before you, as well as a path of influence to leave for those after you.”

Alum & Success Counselor – Joe Bogle

Joe Bogle is a Bottom Line Alumnus and is currently a Success Counselor in Jamaica Plain as a part of the Bottom Line Staff! Joe came across Bottom Line while attending City on a Hill and and went on to enroll and graduate from Bridgewater State University in 2013 earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Education and double minors in Psychology and Social Welfare. Today, Joe is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Education at Salem State University.

High School: City on a Hill
College: Bridgewater State University ’13 / MA Candidate Salem State University
Position: Success Counselor
Company: Bottom Line

What is your experience as an alum who is now working at Bottom Line: As an alumni that now works at Bottom Line, it has been satisfying to be on the counselor side where now I can directly impact students on a daily basis. It has also been a rewarding experience to work with students that come from a similar background and having the ability to help them successfully navigate their way through college is one of the most gratifying feelings.

What advice do you have for Bottom Line Alumni: Be sure to stay in contact with Bottom Line for future endeavors. We’re always looking for our alums to stay engaged and active even when they have graduated. Bottom Line can be a great resource for alumni to reach out to for academic, professional, and volunteer opportunities.

Alumni Board Member – Cristina Rodrigues

Cristina Rodrigues a member of Bottom Line’s Inaugural Alumni Board. Cristina was born in Boston, is the daughter of Cape Verdean immigrants and was a first-generation college student. She first came to Bottom Line while attending Milton Academy and went on to enroll and graduate from Brown University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, and Africana Studies. She then went on to receive a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from Harvard Law School. Today, Cristina is a public defender at the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Cristina is immeasurably grateful to Bottom Line for the huge role it played in her college and career success.

High School: Milton Academy
College: Brown University ’10 / Havard Law School ’13
Position: Public Defender
Company: Committee for Public Counsel Services

Why I am proud to be a Bottom Line Alum: I am proud to be a Bottom Line Alum because I believe so deeply in the mission and method of Bottom Line. Like most people, I was really overwhelmed applying to college. There were so many forms and so many decisions – and as extraordinarily supportive as my parents were, a lot of the paperwork was foreign to all of us. During that process, my Bottom Line counselor was supportive, patient and always willing to walk me through the paperwork. Bottom Line helped me not only get into college but also get a financial aid package that worked for my family. I appreciate all that Bottom Line did for me, my siblings and so many other first-generation college students. I believe first-generation students, students from working class families, students from immigrant backgrounds, students of color and other marginalized groups have a tremendous amount of talent, capability and priceless perspectives. Bottom Line is doing the amazing work of helping us all realize our potential – which is critical for both our personal success and the futures of our communities.

Cristina’s Advice for Bottom Line Alumni: Even with the biggest tasks, just take things one step at a time. Break things down into smaller pieces. Get done what you can today. Ask for help before you need it. Take advantage of resources and community. Be grateful. Plan ahead for tomorrow. Get done what you can tomorrow. And repeat.

Marquisa Gaines: Alumni Board Chair

Marquisa Gaines is the appointed chair of Bottom Line’s Inaugural Alumni Board, and is an alum of Bottom Line’s second class. She first came to Bottom Line while attending Another Course to College (ACC) and went on to enroll and graduate from Hampton University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Today, Marquisa is a Senior Real Estate Reporting Analyst at Eaton Vance, one of the oldest investment management firms in the country.

High School: Another Course to College

College: Hampton University, Class of 2002

Position: Senior Real Estate Reporting Analyst

Company: Eaton Vance

Why Marquisa is Proud to be a Bottom Line Alum: As a Bottom Line Alum, I am honored to represent this wonderful organization and all that it stands for in such a huge way. Bottom Line exemplifies what it takes to be successful when you remain patient and dedicated to following your dreams and reaching your career goals, something I’ve instilled in my daily goals and self evaluation of my life.

Marquisa’s Advice for Bottom Line Alumni: As a Bottom Line Alum, I think it is important to give back to the very organization that prepared and set you up for success. In addition, always remain humble and true to yourself, as you never know what goals can be achieved or results attained with your authenticity. Lastly, understand there will be trials and tribulations. What matters however, is HOW you handle such adversity.

My name is Lili Wondwossen and I graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a degree in Health Science. I am originally from Ethiopia, Africa and moved to Boston when I was eight years old. I currently work at State Street as a Project Analyst in the Corporate Audit Department. I plan to pursue my MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management and run a hospital or work with an international NGO.

High School: The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Sciences

College: Boston University

Graduation Year: 2014

Job: Project Analyst at State Street Corporation

Bottom Line memory:  The Bottom Line office was my second home during High school. It is safe to say I was probably there once a week and got familiar with most of the counselors that worked there. I also had fun eating all the jolly ranchers at the front desk.

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with: Shoes and Clothes coupons (College can be expense), KitKat, and Green Tea

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line:  Bottom Line was and still is such an instrumental part of my life. I could not be where I am today without the continuous support of Bottom Line and its staff. Jackie Robinson once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other life.” I want to do for others what Bottom Line did for me. They are a gateway to success and it is my honor and privilege to be part of such an extraordinary organization.

People would be surprised to learn that I used to: not know how to speak English. I moved to the states when I was eight years old and could barely formulate a sentence in English. It didn’t take long for me to learn but it was something I certainly struggled with.

The BEST part of being a college graduate is: working and saving money. It is also the best time to really figure out who you are by gaining experiences in different professional sectors.

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is: Having to pay bills and figuring out what to do with your life!

Join me in supporting Bottom Line by: becoming a “Go Far Volunteer.” As a volunteer, you can provide the students with mock interviews or informational interviews. Bottom Line students can extremely benefit from your professional experiences and it allows Bottom Line students to feel comfortable and confident during job interviews. Find out more here.

This month Bottom Line – MA hosted Go Far Forum events in Boston and Worcester. More than 300 college students and graduates from Boston and 200 local professionals gathered at the Westin Copley Place Hotel to participate in Bottom Line’s sixth annual Go Far Forum on January 9^th. Lead event sponsors of the Boston Go Far Forum were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston Children’s Hospital, iRobot, Liberty Mutual, and Sun Life Financial. In total, 29 companies, nonprofits, and professional associations had exhibitions at the event. The event also featured a keynote speech by George Foreman III, owner of The Club, boxer, and son of former heavyweight champion boxer George Foreman. Mr. Foreman spoke to students about how to stand out professionally and the importance of building your brand.

Boston Go Far Forum Keynote Speaker George Foreman III conducts a mock interview

Bottom Line Worcester hosted their Go Far Forum at the DCU Center on January 7^th with more than 100 Worcester college students, graduates, and local professionals in attendance. Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester’s second-largest employer, served as the lead sponsor of the event. Staples and UMass Memorial Healthcare provided supporting sponsorships. In total, 18 companies and nonprofits were in attendance.

Students speak to Hanover Insurance employees at the Worcester Go Far Forum

Students at both events participated in mock interviews with volunteer professionals, attended roundtable discussions with human resource professionals, listened to job search panels, and met with representatives from companies and professional organizations at a career fair.

“The Go Far Forum has motivated me to continue working hard in school in order to become a successful person in the future. The mock interviews made me feel confident about the skills I have and helped me prioritize the experiences I will need in order to accomplish my goals,” said Bottom Line student Richard Gonzalez.

The Go Far Forum provides students with an exciting opportunity to explore different career paths, gain professional skills and network with experts in their field.

Bottom Line students at the Go Far Forum in Boston

Click here to learn more about Bottom Line – New York’s recent Go Far Forum event.

On January 9^th, nearly 100 of our college students and over 50 volunteers attended Bottom Line-New York’s Third Annual Go Far Forum. Students had the opportunity to work one-on-one with volunteers to edit their resumés, learn from a variety of professionals about their career paths, and practice their networking skills. Below are three of our students’ reflections on the event and what action the Go Far Forum has inspired each of them to take:

  Name: Taiwo Akande

  College: Brooklyn College

  Graduation Year: 2015

  Career Interests: Lawyer, but now I’m also thinking about other careers after this year’s Go Far Forum

What was your favorite career roundtable and why? The Law and Criminal Justice roundtable was my   favorite. Cristina (a Bottom Line – Massachusetts alum) was a volunteer on the roundtable who stood out to me in  particular. I talked to her one-on-one after the roundtable and appreciated how honest she was with me about  the  good and bad parts of entering the legal field.

What’s one piece of professional advice that you learned at the Go Far Forum? Everyone that I communicated with advised me not to focus solely on the job field that applies most closely to my major. They encouraged me not to limit my options. I used to think that with my Political Science major all that I could do was go into politics; the volunteers helped me open my mind to new ideas.

One next step that I’m planning to take after the Go Far Forum: Cristina encouraged me to start practicing for the LSATs if I really want to go to law school right after undergrad. She told me about a great summer program and I’m planning to apply.

  Name:  Randa Naim

  College: College of Staten Island

  Graduation Year: 2017

  Career Interests: Undecided, but I’m studying electrical engineering right now.

What was your favorite career roundtable and why? I really liked the business roundtable because it was pretty inspirational. There was a volunteer from Nickelodeon and he was telling us about the business of getting stars to sign contracts. I found that really interesting because when you watch Nickelodeon you think about Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, but Joel showed us that there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

What’s one piece of professional advice that you learned at the Go Far Forum? There was a volunteer from Canon during the networking time who reminded us to keep reaching out. He said that it’s good that we’re starting early by going to the Go Far Forum, but that we should reach out and not limit ourselves. We should go for lots of internships and get lots of experience while we’re young.

One next step that I’m planning to take after the Go Far Forum: I was already applying to some internships and fellowships, so now I’m definitely going to finish those applications.

  Name: Tiffany Acevedo

  College: SUNY Albany

  Graduation Year: 2017

  Career Interests: I definitely want to go to law school, but I’m not sure specifically what I want to study – possibly international business.

What was your favorite career roundtable and why? I enjoyed the law and criminal justice roundtable because I really liked that one of the panelists, Adi, said that if you want to go to law school, you don’t have to major in anything specific; you can study what interests you in college and law school will help you with the legal stuff.

What’s one piece of professional advice that you learned at the Go Far Forum? When you’re having professional conversations, there is never a negative attitude. When professionals were speaking to us, they treated us like adults and not just college students. That made me feel really good about myself.

One next step that I’m planning to take after the Go Far Forum: I’m  going to attend more networking events because something good always comes out of them. You could meet someone who will have opportunities that you can take advantage of in the future or you could learn a new piece of advice.

Mirjola Adhami is a consultant at Sun Life Financial in their Rotational Leadership Development Program. Mirjola is in her third rotation at Sun Life, having worked in HR as a recruiter, in sales as a distribution consultant, and now in investments.

Mirjola came to Bottom Line from Another Course to College High School. Bottom Line helped her GET IN to Tufts, GRADUATE debt- free by connecting her to scholarship programs, and GO FAR by introducing her to Bottom Line partner, Sun Life Financial.

Eleven years ago, Mirjola moved to the United States from Albania with her family. She moved here with very little knowledge about American life, but found plenty of support from some very special people and organizations, one of which was Bottom Line.

High School: Another Course to College

College: Tufts University

Graduation Year: 2011

Job: Sun Life Financial, Rotational Consultant

Bottom Line Memory: Selectively picking and eating jolly ranchers by the front desk.

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with: Almonds, peanuts (yay healthy snacks!), Purell, post-its and stress balls (for finals!).

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line: I cannot talk about my success and achievements without talking about Bottom Line. The only way I can thank Bottom Line is by staying involved and helping other students succeed.

People would be surprised to learn that I used to: listen to the BBC to learn English when I was growing up in Albania.

The BEST part of being a college graduate is: a) you make money, b) you are in the privileged minority of college graduates – use it!

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is: Not having as much free time to focus on activities that interest you outside of work.

Join me in supporting Bottom Line by assembling care packages at the Bottom Line office and by making a financial contribution to Bottom Line. Remember to have your donations matched by your company!

Abi Richardson has her Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Abi was born and raised in Boston and is committed to giving back to the community. Her goals vary from expanding her brand Vers Clothing (Very Easily Redefining Style) to assisting at distribution events in Honduras giving children and adults their first pair of sneakers. Abi enjoys collecting sneakers and is actively involved within sneaker culture.

High School: Boston Latin Academy

College: UMass Amherst

Graduation Year: 2013

Job(s): President at Vers Clothing; Director of Programming for Sneakers4Success; Gas Sales and Marketing for NSTAR

Bottom Line Memory:

I appreciate all the assistance Bottom Line has provided for me while I was in college, but choosing a college was the difficult part. I honestly didn’t want to go to college. I remember speaking to Sarah Hedges as a high school student about not really knowing what was next in my life. She helped me visualize what my future could be and helped me to recognize that college would give me more options for my future. She explained to me how helpful Bottom Line would be throughout my journey in college. I instantly felt welcomed and incredibly appreciative.

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with:

Now that’s easy. I’d fill it with my brand Vers Clothing of course. Don’t get me wrong, getting candy is awesome. But candy AND a tee shirt?? That would be crazy. One day…

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line:

I know I didn’t get to where I am today by myself. It’s important for me to give back to programs that have stuck by my side. There are so many ways to give back to our community, the only problem was choosing one (or two, or three). I appreciated every thing Bottom Line has done for me – from sending me care packages to providing mentoring.

People would be surprised to learn that I used to:

Only have two pair of sneakers. I remember having my all white and my all black pair of Nike Air Forces Ones.

The BEST part of being a college graduate is:

Having the freedom to do absolutely whatever I want with my time. I don’t have to wake up for class anymore or worry about if my homework is finished. I don’t read a syllabus anymore to guide me along each semester. The best part is using everything I’ve learned and applying it to whatever I love to do.

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is:

Actually deciding what to do with all this free time. There are so many careers to choose from, events to attend and opportunities to volunteer. There’s a lot of pressure to hurry and a find a job right after college but I believe we all have our own path to whatever we define as success.

Join me in supporting Bottom Line by…

Volunteering to build care packages, attending the annual alumni Success Celebration and maybe being part of the Success Celebration committee and donating a care package!