Anyfern González graduated from Bentley University in 2023 with a degree in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the first graduate at Bentley University to graduate with this degree.
González is currently pursuing her MBA at Boston University while also teaching at East Boston High School. She reflects on her journey as a staple of perseverance and a drive to lead fearlessly. In the interview, she talks about how she found her ground at Bentley, what she found out about success, and how slowing down can be more beneficial to someone’s career.
From the Transcript
Raquel Felix: How was your life at Bentley – highs and lows?
Anyfern González: I didn’t really start enjoying Bentley until my fourth year. The first three years were difficult within themselves because I grew up in an environment that was not predominantly white, which is what Bentley was.
Getting there, kind of adjusting to that environment was hard, I was grateful because I was able to find a home within the Multicultural Center. I’m sure so many people know who Claudette Blot is; she’s the reason why I didn’t transfer after my second semester.
Felix: What made you choose Bentley in the first place?
González: It was the financial aid, literally nothing else. I remember I committed because it was so good, and then I went and visited the school. At the end of the day, do I think that I maybe I should’ve taken a couple more days, or maybe a week more or so, but at the end of the day, I am where I am, and I’ve been able to accomplish so many things because I chose Bentley.
Felix: How did Bentley prepare you for work life after graduation?
González: Bentley does a lot of preparation, beginning with the Career Development Intensive courses. I utilized the Career Center a lot, and I will shout out one specific person from the Career Development Center, Kristine Vidic. Ultimately, she was my number one supporter out of there. And the preparation they do with the MBTI, with the learning styles, and the working styles, and those are things I still use to this day.
Felix: What are you doing now?
González: After Bentley, I secured a job about a month and a half after graduation, and I ended up going through with the federally funded AmeriCorps program through Boston University
I was a college and career access advisor for two years at East Boston High School, which is where I still work now as a teacher.
I’m in my second-to-last semester of my MBA at Boston University Questrom School of Business, and I think that too is pushing me towards ‘Okay, I learned all of this at Bentley, now applying it into a bigger capacity, and what can I do with it?’.
Felix: What advice would you give to current Bentley students?
González: Take everything quite literally, one hour at a time. As Bentley students, you’re looking for internships. Take it one hour at a time
You had an Interview, maybe it went well, that’s great. Maybe you had another interview that didn’t go so well, so move on and show up as your best and most authentic self.
