What was your LCA Experience like when you first came here?
Overall, I had a very positive experience while at LCA. I came here in 7th grade and then all throughout high school.
Did you have classes at LCA that helped prepare you academically for college and what you do now?
Yes. LCA definitely prepared me academically for college. The amount of reading, writing and research I did all led me to pursue a psychology major with a concentration in counseling and health as well as an education minor. Right off the bat, I felt like I was able to foster a passion for social justice. This was brought on from a multicultural project done my senior year that planted the foundation for what I am in school now for which is clinical social work in Black leadership at Boston College School of Social Work. I am in my final year and also hold a certificate in child policy and leadership and eventually am hoping to do a public health and social work certificate.
Were there clubs, leadership opportunities or sports that played a role in your LCA experience?
I played Field Hockey from 7th grade up until 12th grade. I also was involved with theater. I mostly was onstage dancing but also got involved with backstage work like stage management. I liked both aspects but just not acting! My favorite show we did was a show called International Arrivals that were all different stories of different LCA students and also Guys and Dolls because that had a lot of dancing!
Were there any teachers or experiences that helped shape you as an individual?
I worked closely with Mrs. Wright a lot during Black and Brown Student Club. I also connected well with the other boarding students since I was a 5-day boarding student. Being a boarding student was interesting because I felt that I connected more with other students from other grades and got to know more of them in the dorms. Also, it was good to get more sleep being a boarding student and not having to commute from Dorchester every morning and late evening!
Were there any LCA traditions that stand out to you that you always looked forward to?
I remember Lunar New Year being a great tradition to look forward to every year. It was fun learning about the culture and from the international students. Homecoming was also another great one for alumni to connect and cheer on our students at different games and connect with them at the Pep Rally (where I also was introduced to Chick-Fil-A!). The Battle of Lexington and Concord was always so fun and somehow always involved some form of karaoke or even a dance/lip sync battle!
How would you say that LCA influenced your life post graduation? And how did you apply the values you learned from LCA beyond graduation?
The emphasis on serviced and volunteering was really important at LCA and being a social work student now has been something that has carried and stayed with me. My passion for diversity, equity and inclusion all started at LCA too through multicultural night and other events/opportunities around that. LCA has also allowed me to challenge myself and think differently on certain things and I felt encouraged to try new things here.
Anything else you would like to share?
LCA fully prepared me for life after high school and really drove my passion for Black History and Social Justice all throughout my classes, assignments and research. My passion has only evolved since I graduated and I love the program I am in now and how my positive experience at LCA has prepared me for that!
Angelina Latin ’20 is currently in her third and final year of graduate school at Boston College School of Social Work, pursuing a Masters in Social Work focusing on black leadership. She also was a fellow for the Center for Child and Family Policy at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where she completed a certificate in Child Policy and Leadership. Pictured here is Angelina presenting her lab’s latest study at Boston College’s Graduate Research Symposium.