FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu
![Cameron Griffin]( "Cameron Griffin")
MassBay Community College student, Cam Griffin, celebrates his upcoming graduation on MassBay’s Wellesley Hills campus, May 2022 (Photo/MassBay Community College).
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (May 19, 2022) — Cam Griffin of Hopkinton, MA found his passion for helping others when he struggled to find his own path, and people around him provided a caring and supportive network. “From 2016 to 2020, I went to rehab every year to treat my bipolar and severe cannabis use disorders,” said Cam. “In June 2020, I entered a residential treatment program, which provided me with the stability and sobriety I needed to get better. I learned a great deal about myself, and it gave me time to focus on my mental health. In rehab, I realized I was the only person who could change my mindset. That is where I found myself, a solid support system, and figured out what I wanted to accomplish in my life. I’m the happiest and the most driven I have ever been.”
He added, “After I graduated from Hopkinton High in 2016, I went to Framingham State University, but, due to my depression and anxiety, I stopped going to classes and dropped out after my first year. I jumped from job to job, believing college wasn’t for me. I was never a good student, but that all changed when I came to MassBay.”
Cam has become a dedicated and active student while at MassBay. He is part of MassBay’s Commonwealth Honors Program, has earned a spot on the Dean’s List every semester, is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Psi Beta Honor Society, and currently has a 3.8 GPA. He specifically thanks MassBay Professors Jeanie Tietjen and Carolyn Guttilla, for “helping me realize my true potential and for supporting me,” and Professor Brian Keegan for making math enjoyable and fun—all of which helped him accomplish his academic success. Cameron also was elected as the vice president of the academic affairs committee for the Student Government Association and is a member of the biotechnology innovation club. In June, Cam will celebrate two years in recovery.
“I often questioned myself as to why I didn’t start at a community college right out of high school,” he said. “I think that the strong human connections I have experienced at MassBay, along with small class sizes and the supportive faculty, have made all the difference for me in my time here. It’s actually bittersweet to be leaving.”
Cam will graduate from MassBay this month with his Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts, Psychology, and he will transfer as a junior to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston to study in the prestigious Commonwealth Honors College in pursuit of his bachelor’s degree. His future plans include earning his Ph.D. in clinical psychology to study bipolar disorder.
“It feels amazing to be accepted to UMass Boston, especially because I didn't get in when I graduated from high school,” he said. “One message I would share with others is to try to figure out what your passion is and follow a path to help drive your career. It’s incredible how far I have come. MassBay has helped me with my upward trajectory, and now I feel as if the sky’s the limit.”
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.