Recent High School Graduate Finds Her Career Path at MCC

As she started college, Gabriela Peroco’s goal was to jumpstart a career with many opportunities for advancement in a field she felt passionate about. Through guidance from supportive professors and the exploration of a variety of subjects, Peroco discovered the value of biotechnology at Middlesex Community College.

A homeschooled student from Ashland who now lives in Leominster, Peroco enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program at Middlesex after turning 16. While she wanted to get a head start on completing her college general education courses, she went on to find her future career path.

“My education here will impact my life forever,” Peroco said. “I was able to make tons of connections in my classes and with my professors. I was taught many things that I’m not sure that other community colleges would take the time to teach.

Looking for her next steps after finishing her high school and general education requirements, she spoke to Dr. Mariluci Bladon, MCC’s Director of the Biotechnology Program. She felt inspired by Bladon’s passion for the field, as well as the opportunities that would be available to her within the industry. Bladon first recommended Peroco to take the introductory biotech course to gain an overview of the field. “If you love it,” Bladon said, “you go into the program.”

“I took it and fell in love with it,” Peroco said. “That class convinced me to go into biotech. I really went under Dr. Bladon’s wing because I want to learn everything I can before I leave MCC. I’m really enjoying myself in the program, learning and meeting new people, and making connections with both the professors and classmates.”

At 17-years-old, Peroco was too young to complete an internship at a partner company. Instead, Bladon had her work as her Teaching Assistant, helping students with their homework and answering their questions in class and in labs. In addition to having more experience in the field, Peroco felt that she gained a better understanding of the material having gone through the course again in a different way.

This includes working with classmates in labs, one of Peroco’s favorite parts about the program. At Middlesex, students are getting valuable hands-on experience working in a lab that is similar to ones they will see in their jobs. They are getting this exposure early on in their academic and professional careers, performing tasks that will be expected of them in their roles in the field.

In the lab, Peroco is working with cells and learning how to use different machines, grow cell lines, and clean and sanitize equipment. “All of this is so important, and to do it properly too,” she said. “This stuff is needed when you’re working. Instead of making it a burden on you, the professors say, ‘make it a habit.’ I love the labs.”

Peroco credits much of her success to being able to communicate on an individual level with Bladon and her other MCC professors. Whether she goes to them with questions or for advice or letters of recommendations, they are committed to their students and are “very impactful.”

All of the opportunities Peroco has received at Middlesex has also made a difference, including MCC’s Dual Enrollment program. By taking college-level classes at an early age, she had already completed the prerequisites she needed for the biotech program before she entered her freshman year of college. She was also happy to have gone through her math and English requirements so she could focus the rest of her time on classes for her major.

“My experience with Dual Enrollment was great,” she said. “They were very helpful and I really appreciated the head start. I’m a really competitive person, so if it’s pushing me forward, I’m like, ‘yes, I’ll do it.’”

Peroco has already gained a sense of what her career path may look like from learning from her professors and being involved in MCC’s chapter of NEPDA (New England Parenteral Drug Association) for biotechnology students as the president. “It’s great listening to all of these people come in and talk to us about their lives, their studies, their work – it’s amazing,” she said.

A member of MCC’s Commonwealth Honors Program (CHP), she is also the Middlesex club president of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). Peroco believes that being involved in the college community, as well as “doing something that you love,” will guide students to success.

After graduating from Middlesex, Peroco plans to transfer to Northeastern University where she will study as part of the A2M (Associate to Masters) program between the two colleges. Her hope is to go into the research and development side of biotechnology, and looks forward to all that is available to her within this area.

To prospective students deciding on their college path, Peroco said, “You really need to look at something that you want to do. My dad has told me my whole life to pick something that you love as a job. Make the most of it.”

Part of the STEM pathway, the Biotechnology program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_stem.aspx to discover a path to a career in STEM at Middlesex.

Make the most of MCC’s Summer 2022 semester with four opportunities to take classes, including eight-, five- and three-week sessions. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 for more information.

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 education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!