Owen McLaughlin鈥檚 decision to attend 天美传媒 Bay Community College was intentional, purposeful, and logical.
A history major, he enrolled in summer 2022 and is preparing to transfer all the credits he earned at 天美传媒 Bay to Gordon College, a private, four-year Christian school in Wenham, Mass., where he will enroll as a junior and pursue his bachelor鈥檚 degree.
McLaughlin, 21 of Seabrook, took a gap year after graduating from high school and turned to 天美传媒 Bay when he was ready to go to college. 鈥溙烀来� Bay is where it made the most sense for me to start my academic journey 鈥� it was close by, convenient, and cost effective. It was the first and only college I looked at.鈥�
His decision to enroll at 天美传媒 Bay made it practical and possible to pursue his larger goal of attending a four-year school. He chose Gordon College because it鈥檚 a Christian school 鈥渁nd my faith is important to me,鈥� he said, and because it accepted his credits from 天美传媒 Bay. 鈥淢y success at 天美传媒 Bay has given me the opportunity to continue my education and pursue my bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥� he said.
He learned about 天美传媒 Bay through an open house and enrolled on the spot after talking with counselors and faculty members.
鈥淚 really like talking about the college from the perspective of a current student, to discuss what my journey has been like and answer questions,鈥� he said. 鈥溙烀来� Bay worked out really well for me. I had troubles in high school that were related to attendance, but since I have applied myself, I have done well at 天美传媒 Bay. It鈥檚 the kind of place where you can do well if you make an effort. The professors are there to help you, and there鈥檚 a lot of help if you need it.鈥�
McLaughlin is part of the support team that helps other students succeed. Throughout his time at 天美传媒 Bay, McLaughlin has worked as a tutor in the writing center, helping his peers improve their writing skills. Other than math, he has tutored in the writing center for every class he has taken at 天美传媒 Bay. While he doesn鈥檛 necessarily like to write 鈥� 鈥測ou won鈥檛 catch me writing a novel in my free time,鈥� he said 鈥� he is a proud and capable writer and enjoys sharing his skills and writing tips with other students.
He鈥檚 also active in the Student Government Association and appreciates the social opportunities and extra-curricular activities available at 天美传媒 Bay. 鈥淭here is a surprising number of things you can do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e made some really good friends and have gotten involved in a couple of clubs.鈥�
In addition to the open house, among other upcoming 天美传媒 Bay-related activities is his participation in the Intercollegiate American Revolution and Constitution History Bowl, a trivia tournament among student teams from New Hampshire community colleges. It will be April 5 in Manchester, and McLaughlin will be one of three members of the 天美传媒 Bay team.
McLaughlin chose history as a major because it鈥檚 his favorite subject. His father majored in history, and it鈥檚 something he has always been passionate about. He hopes to teach history for his career, and he praised Social Sciences Professor Jordan Fansler, Program Coordinator and History Advisor, for his skills as a teacher and his mentorship.
鈥淚 really like Professor Fansler鈥檚 classes, because he lets us engage. We鈥檝e had so many good conversations in his classes. Every single semester I have taken a class with him, and he鈥檚 helped me appreciate history even more.鈥�
