MCC Helps Alumna Discover Passion for Helping Community

At Middlesex Community College, Maria Aybar learned what it felt like to be part of a community. By providing her with accessible resources and opportunities, Middlesex set her up for success. From building relationships with her professors and her classmates, to taking advantage of the various experiences available to her, Aybar had what she considered a valuable and unique time at MCC.

“I was always trying to be exposed to different people and ideas,” she said. “I really liked the environment at Middlesex. I spent most of my time at the Multicultural Center creating different events. It really opened up different opportunities outside of MCC.”

Being at Middlesex challenged her in exciting ways, pushing her past her normal comfort level and exposing her to new interests. In her experiences, she discovered a passion for helping her community and working with people to provide resources and being a strong advocate for them.

In addition to the Multicultural Club, Aybar participated in Latinos Unidos, the African Culture Club, MCC’s Commonwealth Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa, MCC’s honors society. Having the opportunity to network in these clubs helped her get an internship with Niki Tsongas’ Office, as well as got her involved in nonprofits around Lowell – her hometown – including Public Matters for emerging leaders, the Coalition for a Better Acre, and the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.

“It was a great experience not only academically, but also at the community level,” she said. “It sparked interests I didn’t know I had, like social justice and working with people of color. It was an amazing experience.”

Aybar graduated from MCC in 2017 as a Liberal Arts and Sciences, History, Politics and Global Studies major. She transferred to Amherst College to double major in Political Science and Latinx and Latin American Studies. After graduating with her bachelor’s in 2019, Aybar began working as an Immigration Paralegal in Lawrence.

Her courses at Middlesex prepared her both for her time at Amherst, as well as in her new role. While she was always interested in history and social sciences, Aybar did not know how she could translate the major into a future career until she started at MCC.

She learned a lot from Alejandro Raya – MCC’s Humanities and Social Science Professor – who taught her more about Latin America and inspired her to double major at Amherst. From the Dominican Republic, Aybar relished learning about different countries and cultures. It also helped her to have a lot of background knowledge of Latin America when she started at Amherst.

Aybar enjoyed the research aspect of her classes, including being able to share her work and learn from other students who were equally as passionate about their subjects. The courses helped her develop her writing and critical thinking skills to provide a well-rounded academic experience. In her Honors’ research projects, Aybar studied about immigrants and where they came from, finding it important to learn about people and their personal stories.

This also led to her getting a job in the Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE) to tutor students in writing and computer science. She was also exposed to real world issues, civic engagement and social justice in her general education seminar Leadership in Action from the Paul H. Sullivan Leadership Institute at Middlesex. Her research and experience studying human rights at MCC now ties into her role as a paralegal.

Before she started college, Aybar was mostly focused on her academics. At Middlesex, she learned to appreciate all of the value, resources and opportunities an education provides. Despite challenges due to the pandemic, Aybar encourages students to continue their education now.

“I felt so included at Middlesex and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” she said. “At the end of the day, when you’re part of an institution, you have to feel welcome and accepted and that was the experience I had at Middlesex.”

Whether going for an associate degree, earning credits towards an advanced degree or upgrading skills, MCC has students covered with 10+ degree and certificate programs in Social Science – including anthropology, economics and finance, geography, history, human services, international relations, peace and conflict studies, political science, pre-law, psychology and sociology.

MCC’s Social Science program helps students go into the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_socsci.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a Social Science degree at Middlesex.

Middlesex is hosting a Virtual Pathway Open House for the Humanities, Social Science and Education programs at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18 on Zoom. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/openhouse or email admissions@middlesex.mass.edu.

MCC is celebrating 50 years! If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join in on the 50th anniversary celebrations – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!