Bridgewater had a huge impact on me as a teacher and as a person, too. I can see how important it is to really adapt to every student’s needs. Bridgewater has given me the tools to teach to the best of my potential for every child.
Haley March, ’25, might be the coolest staff member at Pembroke’s Hobomock Elementary School – at least in the eyes of her young students.
That’s because BSU named the childhood studies major as the student commencement speaker at next week’s undergraduate ceremony at Gillette Stadium.
“They were so happy and so excited,” Haley said of sharing the news with the youngsters she serves as a paraprofessional. “They couldn’t stop asking if I was going to be on the Jumbotron.”
Haley’s face will indeed grace the largest outdoor stadium video board in the country when she steps up to the podium to address the Class of 2025. Haley said she is honored to share her story as a transfer student who found a welcoming community at Bridgewater State after opting to attend school closer to her Pembroke home.
“I really appreciated all the work Bridgewater does to have students be involved,” said Haley, who joined the sorority Gamma Phi Beta and enjoyed going to homecoming festivities. “I really appreciate Bridgewater having a great community.”
Haley, who completed a minor in literacy studies, wants to pursue a career in education because she enjoys seeing children grow and helping them reach their full potential. She also coaches basketball and aspires to teach kindergarteners.
At BSU, she learned how to support students inside and outside of the classroom by following the model her professors provided through their own teaching.
“I’m so thankful for all of the professors that have helped me,” said Haley, who worked full time throughout her undergraduate education. “They helped me balance work and school life. I’m so grateful for everyone who took the time to connect with me personally. That’s what I hope to carry with me as a teacher.”
Her advisor, Dr. Marlene Correia, praised Haley as a driven, motivated and well-rounded student who was eager to ask questions and map out a successful academic plan at Bridgewater State.
“Haley is representative of the strong and determined students at BSU who persevere to reach their goals,” said Correia, an associate professor of literacy education. “She is dynamic and hard-working. She has a positive influence on people and will undoubtedly impact the lives of many children in her future career, too.”
But first Haley will ask her fellow graduates to reflect on their time at BSU, including their successes and personal growth. Those accomplishments, she said, are fuel for pushing through life’s inevitable uncertainties.
“Bridgewater had a huge impact on me as a teacher and as a person, too,” she said. “I can see how important it is to really adapt to every student’s needs. Bridgewater has given me the tools to teach to the best of my potential for every child.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.