Eagles for Life
We asked students and alums: What does it mean to be an Eagle?
Meghan Heckelman ’25 describes Boston College as a “safe place to fail,” when thinking about her experience leading skits during freshman orientation. “I was nervous about performing under the hot lights and remembering my lines,” she says. “But I realized if I messed up, it would be okay because I had 39 people cheering me on. That’s what BC is: a place where people root for you.”
Being a Boston College student—an Eagle—has always been about more than academics. It’s about discovery, reflection, purpose in the world, and meeting people who will change your life.
Room to Grow—and Stumble
From day one, students are welcomed into an environment that encourages them to take risks—whether in the classroom, on the field, or in extracurricular activities.
Mallory Hasselbeck ’25 says the core curriculum introduced her to subjects she never would have explored otherwise. “You might take a class just because it’s mandatory, but then you end up falling in love with it,” she reflects. “That’s the magic of BC—it pushes you to discover passions you didn’t know you had.”
Michael Lustri ’25 values the time he’s had to reflect on what matters to him most. “Thanks to my four years at BC, I know what I’m passionate about and I have an idea of how I want to go about that,” he says. “I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I have a better sense of the character I want to take with me when I do it.”
Building Resilience
Through wins and setbacks, BC students learn how to navigate life with resilience. “To me, being an Eagle means making the most of everything that comes your way—the good and the bad,” says James Laboissonniere ’25. “Even on the tough days, you learn to be resilient and to find meaning in the challenges.”
Hasselbeck echoes this sentiment, describing the two paths students face when they start college. “You can either take the easier way and be on cruise control, or you can do what BC encourages us to do and take the other path,” she says. “The other path isn’t necessarily linear—it’s up and down. You do well on a test, you do bad on a test. You might apply to a club and not get in. You might be the leader of the club. The point is the journey.”
“To me, being an Eagle means making the most of everything that comes your way—the good and the bad.”
James Laboissonniere ’25
Pops on the Heights Mancini Family Rhode Island Scholar
“To me, being an Eagle means making the most of everything that comes your way—the good and the bad.”
James Laboissonniere ’25
Pops on the Heights Mancini Family Rhode Island Scholar
As Men and Women for Others
The Jesuit ideal of being “men and women for others” is a cornerstone of the BC experience, shaping how students interact with one another and engage with the wider world. “I want to be the type of leader who’s picking up the equipment after practice, cleaning up trash, and also giving the pregame speech before a national championship game,” says Hasselbeck, who is a member of the women’s lacrosse team. “There’s value in being believable and authentic. When those big moments come, people believe you because they’ve seen you lead by example.”
Julie Canuto-Depina ’25 agrees. “To be an Eagle means being an advocate—bringing people together and thinking of others. It’s about being a man or woman for others in everything you do.”
For Canuto-Depina, a service immersion trip to Jamaica was particularly meaningful. “I had the privilege of leading the trip and touching communities in ways I never imagined,” she says. “It deepened my understanding of what it means to serve others and to be in love with the community.”
The ethos of service is also evident in everyday moments. Heckelman highlights the small, meaningful acts of kindness that define BC. “Even if I’m 100 feet away, someone will hold the door open for me,” she says. “That’s the culture at BC—people want to support each other and be there for one another.”
This commitment to others is a lifelong hallmark of being an Eagle. Madisyn Wilkins ’25 captures this enduring spirit: “If I’ve learned one thing since being a Boston College student, it’s that people who are part of the BC community are Eagles for life. The support members of our community show to each other is unparalleled and truly special. Boston College Eagles will always show up to support one another, and that is something I am proud to say I am a part of.”
Beyond Linden Lane
To be a Boston College student is to belong to a community that extends far beyond campus. Alumni often speak of how their years at BC have impacted their lives and careers long after graduation. It was by chance that Duane Brown ’76 found friends right from the start: at orientation. “I met some wonderful folks who I’m still close with today,” he says. That includes his freshman year roommate. “We stayed roommates all four years, and after graduation we ended up standing in each other’s weddings and made each other godfather of our children.” That’s the kind of connection that lasts a lifetime.
“To be an Eagle means being an advocate—bringing people together and thinking of others. It’s about being a man or woman for others in everything you do.”
Julie Canuto-Depina ’25
Birmingham Family Scholar
As a student, “there was a lot of alignment with the Jesuit ideal of service,” says Wynndell Bishop ’00, MBA’07, president of the Boston College Alumni Association (BCAA) Board of Directors. “It resonated with me then and formed my desire to give back, more so than I initially realized.”
Bishop’s fellow BCAA Board member James Lizzul ’09 recalls a memorable toast from Rev. Michael J. Himes during senior week. “He told us, ‘You’re not leaving BC. You’re taking BC with you,’” Lizzul says. “It’s echoed in my mind ever since, and it’s proven true.”
Gratitude for the Journey
“Since coming to Boston College, I have transformed as a learner, friend, and person,” reflects Mackenzie Caruso ’26. “The holistic approach to education has not only heightened my intellectual curiosity, but has connected me with professors that have changed my outlook on life. The friends I have made will be in my life forever, and there is truly nothing better than being an Eagle. I could not be more thankful for this experience.”
What does it mean to be an Eagle?
Grounded in Jesuit, Catholic ideals, a Boston College education inspires students to discover and develop their talents and use them in service to others. As we approach the annual BC Giving Day on March 12–13, we are asking students and alums to consider: What does it mean to be an Eagle?
Your generosity to Boston College on Giving Day will support the wide range of opportunities the University has to offer today’s students to help them reach their fullest potential. Once again, this year’s gifts will count Toward Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College.
Thank you for your commitment to Boston College!