June 02, 2022
What you make of it: Brian Campbell ’22
Brian Campbell ’22, from Westfield, Mass., was one of five top students in the Class of 2022. A finance major, he will work as an investment banking analyst with Citizens Bank in the Debt Capital Markets Group.
Reflecting on my four years at Providence College, I am forever grateful to the school and my closest friends, family, and faculty for making my time here the immensely rewarding experience that it was. Specifically, I would like to thank the Liberal Arts Honors Program for playing a large part in my development as a student and for equipping me with the tools needed to succeed in today’s world — the ability to think critically, to write well, to communicate effectively, and most importantly to think on my own. Looking back and thinking about the student I entered in as freshman year and seeing the student who is about to enter the real world, I cannot thank the Liberal Arts Honors Program enough for forming me into the student I am now and for challenging me every day. Additionally, I would like to thank the faculty members within the finance department for not only facilitating my growth as a student, but for serving as great mentors and sources of insight as well.
But as I get ready to start working full-time very soon, there are two key takeaways I have learned during my four years at PC. First and foremost, leverage the Providence College alumni network and develop meaningful relations with alumni in your respective fields. This, to me, is one of the greatest pieces of advice I could give to an incoming freshman and something that has played a huge role in my time at PC. Providence College alumni want to give back to PC, and they are always more than willing to take five to ten minutes of their day to chat briefly with students about how to enter into their respective careers and to answer any general career questions you may have. All of my internship opportunities and my full-time position after school have come as a result of leveraging the PC network, and I am grateful for all of the alumni who have helped and aided in my professional career along the way. I cannot stress enough the power of relationships and the PC network, and this is something I would stress to any incoming student.
Second, I firmly believe that college truly is what you make it to be, as cliché as it may sound. Thus, I challenge every incoming student to push yourself to get involved and to make your college experience more than just hanging out with friends and attending classes. Get involved with clubs of your interest, develop relationships with your professors, and push yourself in the classroom to think beyond the material being presented to you. Develop a sense of intellectual curiosity that will urge you to question things, to think on your own, and that will cause you to bring new ideas and solutions to problems. In short, challenge yourself not simply to go through the motions during your time at PC. Start early, and step outside your comfort zone both academically and in extracurriculars as well. Trust me, it will be rewarding.
While surely my time at PC has come to an end, I am forever grateful to Providence College for developing me into the student I am today and for instilling in me the lessons and tools I have garnered above. God bless and Go Friars!
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