Happy Easter Break, Hounds! This week on Highlighting Hounds, we are featuring Francesca Reardon ’26, a junior who has immersed herself in student life through meaningful roles in organizations like Peers Advocating Wellness for Students (PAWS), Best Buddies, and the Peer Mentoring program. As President of PAWS, Francesca has championed wellness initiatives that empower and educate her peers, while her involvement in other campus programs reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, friendship, and support. Read more to learn about Francesca’s journey, the inspiration behind her involvement, and how her time at Assumption has shaped her personal and professional aspirations.
Give a brief overview of your campus involvement and impact on the Assumption community.
At Assumption, I am involved in many different clubs and organizations! My most
notable work is as the President of Peers Advocating Wellness for Students
(PAWS). In this role, I am able to connect with the student body in a very unique
way. Our programs are both fun and educational, informing Assumption students
about various wellness subtopics including mental health, physical health,
substance education, and relationship advocacy. In addition to being the
President of PAWS, I am also a member of Best Buddies, a mentor for first-year
students, an employee at the Plourde Recreation Center, and a member of
ASPIRE! In these organizations, I am constantly advocating for a welcoming and
inclusive community where students are able to develop their personal interests
while also being involved in a very meaningful way!
What inspired you to become so involved, and how did you obtain these positions?
I have always known that I have wanted to work in a mental health field, and
when I found out that PAWS was accepting applications during my first year, I
immediately knew that I wanted to join. After submitting my application, I was
accepted onto the executive board as a Community Outreach executive! The
following year, I was one of the Public Relations executives, and now I am
President for my junior and senior year! Once I felt settled with PAWS, I found
more organizations to become involved with! There are so many different
opportunities for leadership at Assumption, and I found what interested me the
most and joined!
How have your experiences in PAWS, Best Buddies, and as a Peer Mentor shaped
your overall college experience?
Being part of these organizations has transformed my experience at Assumption.
In terms of PAWS, I have been able to cater to the wellness needs of our student
body, providing educational information and resources to anyone who
participates in our events. This has been incredibly fulfilling, as it translates
perfectly into my career aspirations. Being a member of Best Buddies, I have
made so many amazing and lasting friendships that I will always be proud of. I
have also learned the value of inclusion, as being surrounded by people from all
walks of life has truly opened my eyes. As a Peer Mentor, I have been a resource
to first-year students that may be anxious about the transition from high school to
college. I know that I was very nervous upon entering my freshman year, but
having an older student that already went through this huge transition period
made my feelings feel more normal and validated. I enjoy being able to do what
was done for me for others.
Can you share a moment or project from PAWS that you’re particularly proud of?
A project from PAWS that I am the most proud of is Take Back the Night. For
those that do not already know, Take Back the Night is an annual program that
college campuses all over the country participate in to advocate for survivors of
sexual assault and domestic violence. During the first half of this event, student
leaders from various clubs and organizations and faculty from multiple
departments read poems about strength, validation of experience, and healing to
the attendees. This shows each respective organization’s support and solidarity
for survivors of sexual assault. After a brief intermission, faculty are asked to
leave the room so students can come to the podium and share their story. The
space is completely confidential, with only Counseling Services, our Campus
Advocate, and students present. By sharing these experiences, survivors are
able to feel a sense of community by knowing they are not alone. These stories
also show that you never know what someone is battling behind closed doors,
and that it is important to show people grace.
What are your career goals? How will your experiences help you reach those goals?
My ultimate goal is to be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, specifically for
survivors of sexual assault. Through my role as a PAWS executive, I have done
quite a lot of programming for mental health and sexual assault, which led me to
develop a deep passion for these subjects. This led me to pursue a role as an
On-Call Sexual Assault Advocate at the Worcester Pathways for Change office!
In this role, I support both survivors and medical personnel at Worcester-area
hospitals when survivors seek medical attention after being sexually assaulted.
At the hospital, I provide survivors with resources and information, while also
validating the range of emotions they may feel after something like this happens.
This role has strengthened my interest in helping people immensely, as I have
met so many incredible people by working in this field.
What has your role as a building staff member at Plourde taught you about
responsibility and teamwork?
As a building staff member at Plourde, I have worked with fellow student
employees to ensure that all students that use the Plourde Recreation Center
have a positive experience. The staff members work together to keep the facility
clean and welcoming for anyone that enters the doors. Mike Rodier has also
encouraged all of us to go above and beyond in our roles, and it has truly paid off
when we see students returning day after day to use the facility. He has
welcomed our suggestions and feedback for all aspects of Campus Recreation,
and really takes our perspectives into account. In this role, I have been able to
gain more responsibility, as I have accepted a role as a Building Supervisor for
my senior year!
How has being part of Best Buddies influenced your view on inclusion and
community?
Being a member of Best Buddies this year has led me to make amazing
friendships with amazing people! Although I have not been able to attend the
meetings that much this semester because of other commitments, I have an
amazing buddy that has truly taught me the value of genuine friendship. My 1:1
buddy is an awesome person, and we have so many funny memories together!
When I am able to go to the meetings, I am always greeted by such wonderful
and inclusive people that strive to make Assumption a stronger community.
What are your key takeaways from your experience?
One of the key takeaways from my experience as a student leader is the
friendships I have made throughout all of the organizations I am involved in. By
joining these clubs, I was able to meet people with similar interests, leading to a
lasting friendship. Being friends with the people that you program with goes a
long way, as you are able to respectfully work together, creating a more positive
work environment for all!
Will you continue your education? If so, what are the key factors that will
influence your decision on where to continue your education?
I am planning to continue my education here at Assumption in the Clinical
Counseling Psychology graduate program! The most motivating factor for
continuing my education at Assumption is the community. As an undergraduate, I
have developed very close relationships with students and faculty members, and
I could not imagine myself thriving as much as I do at Assumption anywhere
else. There are so many resources on campus that are available to all students,
and the professors are always available to help whenever support is needed. I
truly value the relationships I have created during my Assumption experience,
and I truly believe that will help make for a successful graduate school
experience.
How do you plan to carry the skills and lessons you’ve learned at Assumption
into your future career or academic goals?
One of the most important lessons that I have learned at Assumption is how to
be a respectful leader. When leading a group of people, it is very important to
hear everyone’s perspectives and treat everyone equally. Sometimes, being in
leadership roles can be very overwhelming, especially when there are so many
moving parts and different leadership personalities, and it can be really easy to
take out frustrations on those around you. In these instances, it is incredibly
important to take a step back and remember that everyone is doing their best
with what they have, and that differing opinions are just differing perspectives!
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your
leadership roles, or any lessons you wish you had learned sooner?
A lesson I wish I learned sooner was how to get over Impostor Syndrome. For
some brief background, I had a really hard time with my mental health during
high school. When I arrived at Assumption, I felt like it was my opportunity to start
over and embrace the endless list of opportunities. When I began entering
leadership roles, I found it very hard to believe that I was succeeding as much as
I was and I started doubting myself. As time went on, I turned the anxiety and
discomfort I felt into pride in myself. I realized that the things I was doing were
not only fulfilling to me, but helping others as well, and it made me very happy to
know that no matter how big or small, I was making a positive impact on
someone
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a strong candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
