Bryan R. '05 Binghamton '10

Berkeley Carroll opened my mind. The school helped me get to know myself and become the go-getter that I am today. Since graduating college in 2005 I have become a partner at New York Life; I know that lives depend on my advice and I use what I learned at BC to help people achieve their own goals.

When I came to BC in seventh grade, English class had the biggest impact on me. We were taught to understand the deeper context, a skill which I still put into practice today on a daily basis. Baseball was also a large part of my time at the school — I joined the JV team in eighth grade and was on the varsity squad starting my freshman year of high school.

I wanted to attend a college where I could play baseball, but also have access to high-quality academics. After two years at Northeastern University I transferred to Binghamton University where I completed my degree in economics and a Spanish minor. Berkeley Carroll did a great job guiding me through the college process. I had high expectations given the excellent education I received at BC, but ended up having an amazing undergraduate experience which led me to my career in finance.

Originally I thought I was going to be an investment banker, but the recession of 2008 led me instead to a career as a financial advisor as I wanted to assist those who needed it. New York Life, just like Berkeley Carroll, has given me the tools and advice I need in order to be successful. I had a lot of mentors at Berkeley Carroll — teachers, coaches and friends — and now I can be a mentor for others. Going forward, I plan to be part of the organization’s growth — my next aspiration is to run an office within the company.

BC taught me to be a citizen of an ever-changing world. The school sets a positive example for its students and it was my education there that helped shape me into the more appreciative, open-minded, goal-oriented person I am today.