After four years of navigating the college world, members of Bryant University’s Class of 2023 offered advice to the incoming Class of 2027 as they waited for Commencement to begin on May 20. Here are some of their suggestions for first-year students: 

• “Trust the process and don’t stress yourself out too much. Take the experience day by day instead of worrying about everything right away,” says Marketing major Gabriela Martin. Martin finished her degree in the fall and now works as a marketing coordinator in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. 

• “Don’t get discouraged, stay focused, don’t party too much, and just keep going,” says Sociology major Jamichael Watts. Watts, who plays on the offensive line for Bryant’s football team, will return to Bryant in the fall for a fifth year. 

• “Utilize resources — I know it’s kind of a generic answer, but we have a lot of them at Bryant to help you succeed,” says Kyle McCabe, an Accounting major who accepted a job at PwC. 

• “Work hard, play hard,” says Health Sciences major Hallie Campbell. While at Bryant, Campbell was a 50 freestyler, 100 freestyler, and 100 butterflier for the university’s swimming and diving team. She will soon be working in Connecticut as a sales representative for Cintas. 

• “Be open-minded to everything that goes on at the campus and get involved,” says Psychology major Anthony Frederick. A wide receiver for Bryant’s football team, Frederick will return to Bryant in the fall for a fifth year. 

• “Get involved — do as much as you can to keep yourself busy because you never know what kind of opportunities that’s going to lead you to,” says Accounting major Megan Swenson, who was involved in the Chamber Ensemble, Bryant Players, Mock Trial, Senior Advisory Council, and more. She will complete Bryant’s Master of Professional Accountancy this summer and start working for PwC in the fall. 

• “Get out of your comfort zone,” says Megan Lawlor, a Health Sciences major and member of the university's track and field team. Following graduation, Lawlor will begin working at a recruiting and staffing firm in Massachusetts.  

• “Just be yourself. You only have four years, and you want to make your own kind of mark on the school,” says Zachary Zambarano, a double major in Accounting and Politics and Law who also served as president of student government during the 2022-2023 academic year. He will join the tax staff at Citrin Cooperman after graduation.