Enmanuel Cabrera- U.S. Army Combat Medic to Boston College
Full Name: Enmanuel Cabrera
Anticipated graduation year: Boston College, Class of 2023
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I joined the army at 17 years old. I was a class clown back then. But I’d like to believe the Army turned an immature boy into a responsible young man.
Intended Major: Management with a concentration in Finance
What did you do in the military: 91W Combat Medic
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? As a reservist I never felt like I did enough. However, my proudest moment in the military was graduating from basic training. On that day I realized if I was strong enough, fast enough, smart enough to become an American soldier, then I could do anything or become anyone I set my mind too.
How did you hear about S2S? I stumbled across S2S as I was researching schools to apply too. I was on MIT’s website, and they had a section dedicated to helping veterans navigate the application process. On there I found a link to S2S. I figured if they were being promoted by MIT, they must have a track record for success.
What was the best part of S2S for you? Honestly everything. I previously applied to 10 schools for fall of 2020 on my own, and was denied from all 10 schools. It was a frustrating experience. This is when I finally decided to reach out to S2S. Right from the beginning I felt welcomed. I felt a sense of connection. From my experience, most veterans are always willing to go above and behind to help a fellow battle buddy, and S2S was no different. They had a passion for helping veterans get into their dream schools, and that’s exactly what they did for me. If I had to choose what I thought was the biggest benefit, I would have to say my S2S mentor. He helped me write multiple essays catered to the schools I was applying too. He elevated my writing to new highs. And he also helped navigate the application process by giving me pointers on who to reach out to in the school and what to when I finally meet university admissions officers.
Why did you decide to pursue higher education? I have been working in retail sales for quite some time now, where I’ve been fortunate to gain some experience in management. I finally decided to return to school to pursue a career in management and finance in order to hopefully appeal to jobs with better wages.
How has the transition been from the military to civilian life? As I had previously stated, I was a reservist, so for the most part I lived a civilian life. Therefore, the transition has been pretty easy for me.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting college? What’s your favorite part about the school you chose to matriculate at? I’m most excited to return to in person schooling, meeting new people, learning new things that I can use in real world experiences, and I’m looking forward to college sports. My favorite part about Boston College is that even through orientation I could tell that my school really focuses on their students. They are focused on making me feel comfortable as a transfer student. They focus on building connections with other students example, I already had 3 student mentors within the first two weeks. But most importantly, they focus on getting their students employed after, or in some cases before graduation.
What advice would you give to future applicants? Dedicate as much time as you can to the application process. It could feel tedious at times, but there’s no greater feeling than working so hard and receiving the acceptance letter you have been waiting for.
What are your goals post-graduation? Finding a job in the field that interest me, earning some valuable work experience, and hopefully using S2S again to help me apply for grad school.
