After moving from India to Lowell, Alicia Wheeler joined Middlesex Community College as a communication student in late 2023. Hoping to expand her knowledge, her goal is to become a better communicator and learn more about public relations.
“Before coming to MCC, I did not really know what I wanted to do,” Wheeler said. “Back home, I was not happy with my job, and I wanted to pursue a different path. Joining MCC allowed me to pursue my education abroad and the community has been welcoming and supportive. Staff were encouraging and helpful from the beginning.”
Wheeler was a musician and taught music for five years in India. After visiting her brother in Lowell and enjoying the environment, she researched different study options. MCC’s affordability stood out to her. Due to her interest in social media, she chose to study communication.
To get more involved on campus, Wheeler began working at the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) as an Orientation Leader in the spring. Through the experience, she made friends with classmates and boosted her confidence. MCC’s Coordinator of Student Engagement & Multicultural Programming Linda Thiem, has served as a mentor for Wheeler. Thiem provides guidance and helps her feel less doubtful about taking leadership roles.
“I’ve gotten to know so many people. Situations that I thought were very scary at one point were not anymore. I feel like I became a better communicator because my role as an Orientation Leader involved me engaging with and helping people at MCC," - said Alicia Wheeler, MCC Communication Student.
Wheeler is also an MCC math tutor for the Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE) while working as a student greeter for OSE. In her role at OSE, she helps organize and facilitate events, print student IDs and send emails. In addition, she started a mental health club to help students connect and speak about their concerns and perspectives over Zoom.
“With my outlook and experiences, I want to inspire other women who feel like they didn’t have a voice at some point in their lives,” Wheeler said. “I want people to know they are not alone and break the stigma behind mental health. To help people understand and reflect in a safe space, I encourage club members to discuss topics related to their mental health and assure that it is completely fine to share their feelings.”
After graduating from MCC, Wheeler plans to work for a year to gain experience in her field. Once she completes her work for a year, she hopes to transfer to UMass Lowell and continue studying communication. At MCC, Wheeler credits the community – including professors such as Jose Martinez, Jill Arabas and Janelle Barinelli – for her academic success and progress in classes.
“The community has also helped me learn about the people I am around,” Wheeler said. “Whenever I have questions, faculty and staff respond quickly or meet with me in person which is helpful. I love how there are so many different backgrounds at the college. The college is quite diverse, and people try to understand my culture.”