Though he faced some challenges in high school, Middlesex Community College is offering Christian Tims, of Groton, a fresh start. The business administration student and Student Government Association (SGA) president has found a community of learning and experiences at MCC that is guiding him toward reaching his goals.
“MCC has provided me with many opportunities and a solid foundation for my higher education,” Tims said. “I have been exposed to a wide array of diverse individuals with highly stratified backgrounds and ambitions which has opened my mind. MCC has also been an aid in determining what my goals are in the first place.”
Interested in making a difference, Tims is looking to jumpstart his future in politics and government. While at Middlesex, he chose a business program because he wants to pursue a career in economics. Both in his classes and in his campus activities, Tims is exploring civics, law and governance.
One experience that helped set Tims up for success was the Commonwealth Municipal Finance Fellowship he completed over the summer. Working full-time in the finance department of his town hall, he applied theories he learned in his classes to real-life situations. He believes he also gained a strong addition to his resume and college transfer application.
“My internship experience has sharpened my discipline, work ethic, and exposed me to a professional environment where a lot is at stake,” Tims said. “It has helped me to direct my interests and increase my ability to take in a lot of information on the fly.”
Tims credits Maria McDuffie Clark, MCC’s Director of Student Engagement for Equity, for assisting him with his work on SGA. The central governing liaison to all clubs and organizations at the college, SGA allows Tims to hear classmates’ feedback, concerns and needs, which he then communicates to MCC’s administration.
“I have been exposed to a wide array of diverse individuals with highly stratified backgrounds and ambitions which has opened my mind. MCC has also been an aid in determining what my goals are in the first place.” - Christian Tims, MCC Business Administration Student
Using his business background, Tims collaborates with clubs to build their budgets and plans. He also helps organize campus-wide events to bring the community together. At the recent Fall Jam event, he took the time to meet with students and employees to discuss how to get involved on campus.
“SGA is an open forum, meaning any student can come to a meeting, inquire and contribute,” Tims said. “My role as president has challenged me as a leader and learner, and has grown my skills in project planning, teamwork and management. I’m able to give my best effort to make meaningful changes on campus.”
In addition to SGA, Tims is part of MCC’s Business and Economics Club. A Commonwealth Honors Program scholar, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honors society for two-year colleges.
His favorite class experiences at Middlesex include discussions about readings with classmates, as well as the chance to present projects in his honors world cultures class. Tims also enjoyed a field trip to collect dragonfly larvae to analyze mercury levels in an environmental science lab.
After graduating from MCC in the Spring of 2025, he plans to transfer to a four-year school and one day earn a master’s degree. Through hands-on learning and experiences, Middlesex is providing a clear path to his future.
“After a mediocre and unfortunate high school tenure, now was the time to make the most of school and not look back,” he said. “MCC has granted me fresh opportunities in the classroom, in addition to extracurriculars that have provided me with the necessary experience and credentials to ready me for the next steps.”