Middlesex CC Helped Alum Find New Direction and Pursue Passion

After Chelmsford-native Davis Laich realized studying Business at a school in Ohio was not right for him, he returned home to Massachusetts to figure out his next steps. A visit to Middlesex Community College’s campus in Bedford made him consider the college as his start in a new direction. The decision, he said, “changed my life.”

“I went into Middlesex as a slow start back into things, but immediately, the professors were engaging,” Laich said. “They made you engage with the world around you and see it from a critical lens. Talk about going from being apathetic about education to really passionate about something. The passion that was instilled in me was essential.”

Laich’s time in MCC’s Commonwealth Honors program in particular left a lasting impression, helping him find a passion for understanding information in new and exciting ways. A U.S. History Through Film honors course taught him skills he could carry onto his next steps. These included researching, navigating databases, using various sources, and presenting his research project on the Black Male Experience Throughout History.

“Middlesex doesn’t shy away from holding you accountable,” Laich said. “The research project changed the way I look at schoolwork. It was a good opportunity of preparation. You have a deadline, you have to read, analyze, submit papers. It trained you to dive into the work.”

While he started off taking a few credits a semester as he got more comfortable at Middlesex, Laich enrolled in MCC’s eight-week Mini-mesters to catch up on credits in order to graduate in two years. He also took classes over the summer and winter breaks.

“They allowed me to graduate from Middlesex on time and fit more credits into those semesters where I had taken less credits initially,” he said. “They’re useful in getting you where you need to go on the timeframe you want.”

Working while taking classes also taught Laich a few important lessons, including holding himself accountable and managing his time and energy. MCC made this process easier by being close to his home, offering affordable tuition, and running many classes online. Having one-on-one access to advisors was another benefit, a factor that made his transition to the larger UMass Lowell “a fluid experience.”

Taking advantage of the MassTransfer system, Laich went right into his Journalism and Professional Writing program at UMass Lowell after graduating from Middlesex in 2021. He is currently working in an internship at the Lowell Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events where his main tasks are to write a weekly newsletter and facilitate daily operations. He finds it exciting to be pursuing a profession that inspires him and he credits Middlesex for affording him the opportunity to make this professional switch.

“Middlesex taught me so many things in life,” he said. “It was such a welcoming environment that propelled me forward in the way I wanted to go. I will always be indebted to MCC.”