Wily Blog

A collection of poetry by Wily Scholar Tommy, Boston College '25

When Wily met Eric James, we were both just starting out. He hadn’t yet enrolled at UMass Dartmouth, and we were yet to partner with our first student. Now, seven years  and more than 100 Wily Scholars later, we sat down with Eric to talk about his new role. The first ever Wily Scholar has been appointed Mattapan’s Neighborhood Liaison to City Hall by Mayor Michelle Wu.

During my senior year of high school and freshman year of college, I decided to read some books outside of my comfort zone. This is a list of the ones that have changed my perspective and inspired me. I find that the books that make [...]

Mackenzie Fierceton is the child of a doctor who attended a private prep school in a wealthy suburb. She also called herself a first-generation low-income student. But Mackenzie Fierceton is not a liar. She is a student who found herself in a complex and easily-misunderstood situation: working towards her degree without support from family. Just as Mackenzie’s story was misunderstood, what makes a student a Wily Scholar [...]

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a mentor and a coach? Since January is National Mentoring Month, we thought we’d take the opportunity to explain! Here’s the quick version: mentors are role models who speak from a place of experience. Coaches are collaborators who specifically focus on working with you to achieve your goals. Of course, many mentors [...]

This year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, returning to or entering college is looking very different for students. While some universities have allowed students back on campus for in-person learning, other schools are instituting [...]

The Wily pack is family. Connect with as many people as you can within the Wily community. If you are a fellow introvert, that is okay, have quality relationships and give it time. Know your coach, know Judi, know your fellow Wily Scholars [...]

Finding a summer internship can be pretty tough nowadays. There seems to be an unending supply of unpaid internships, many of them online, and a shortage of ones that give students hands-on experience as well [...]

"Just go home and talk with your parents. See if they have any internships or job opportunities at their companies”. This is the very first piece of advice about networking many of us receive in school. But what if your parents don’t work in the industry you are interested in? What if your parents don’t work? [...]