When Troy Lafond chose to attend UMass Lowell, the mechanical engineering program seemed like a perfect fit.聽
After a positive experience in the engineering program at Blackstone Valley Technical High School, the Bellingham, Massachusetts, native opted to stay in state for college.
鈥淚 was applying to schools that were really well-regarded for their engineering programs 鈥� specifically UMass Lowell being one of the better state schools in Massachusetts for that,鈥� he says.
Lafond鈥檚 plans changed after he joined the staff of during his first semester on campus and discovered a love for writing. He switched his major to English聽with a concentration in journalism and professional writing and added minors in digital media and political science.
鈥淲hen I came here, I had no intention of ever switching from engineering,鈥� Lafond says. 鈥淪ince I had joined The Connector and was writing more and more, going to English and journalism felt like the right step, and I鈥檝e regretted nothing since.鈥�
Lafond sees his role on The Connector as a way to contribute to the university at large.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 giving back to the campus, giving them a solid newspaper every week to keep everyone up to date on what鈥檚 going on both here and around the world,鈥� he says.聽
Lafond has gained experience in various aspects of the newspaper鈥檚 operations on the way to becoming editor-in-chief. His goal this year is to improve The Connector鈥檚 visual appeal.
鈥淚 really want to become good at graphic design,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 finally recruited someone who knows how to use InDesign really well to be able to help me do that, which I鈥檓 really excited for.鈥�
After taking time off from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lafond returned to UMass Lowell looking to get more involved on campus. He joined the in the fall of 2021, where he is now the social media manager.聽
Since joining, Lafond has participated in local and international events, including the Model United Nations Conference in the spring of 2022, where he won the Best Delegate award. He hopes to win another award at the Model U.N. Conference in Belgium this semester.
While Lafond鈥檚 achievements are meaningful to him, the friendships from both organizations are just as valuable.
鈥淚n both clubs 鈥� but especially in the International Relations Club 鈥� I鈥檝e made a lot of really great lifelong friendships,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e met a lot of cool people and just had a lot of really awesome opportunities.鈥�
Looking ahead, Lafond hopes to use the skills he has crafted through his classes and student organizations to secure a writing job after graduation.
鈥淏y the end of the year, I鈥檓 hoping that I can find a full-time or even part-time writing position,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want to apply what I鈥檝e learned in school to the real world.鈥�