As we count down to Commencement, we’re spotlighting the Class of 2025—sharing stories that go beyond the cap & gown and reflect the heart, hustle, and hope of our graduating Gulls. Learn more about Ashley Allen ’25.
If we’re talking full-circle moments, senior Antoni Reyes ’25 has had a few.
For starters, the elementary education major is pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming an educator. It all started with his fifth-grade teacher, Mr.G, in his hometown of Roslindale, Mass.
“He was my first male teacher and stood out to me as very caring and not the stereotypical assertive type,” said Reyes. “It was obvious that he loved what he was doing, and he had the best interests of his students in mind. Since then, I’ve wanted to be that male role model for my own future students.”
This fall, Reyes will return to the classroom as an educator himself. As an 91ÖØ¿Ú Teaching Fellow, he’ll gain practical, clinical experience in the classroom while completing a Fifth Year master’s program, earning his M.Ed. at no cost in exchange for his academic year of service.
The Journey to 91ÖØ¿Ú
As a first-generation college student who grew up in public housing, Reyes’ family encouraged him along the entire way, but he only had himself to rely on during the college admissions process.
After researching options, completing financial aid applications, and determining what he could realistically afford, Reyes shared that he was “basically doing everything on my own.”
When his high school career counselor suggested he look into 91ÖØ¿Ú, he was intrigued. The “rigorous education licensure program” stood out to him compared to other options nearby, plus 91ÖØ¿Ú’s financial aid offer made the prospect of attending college attainable.
Reyes enrolled and began his first semester towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a commuter student. He spent four hours a day, two each way, on the MBTA commuter rail and the green line, getting to and from campus. After classes and on nights and weekends, it was off to his part-time job as a pharmacy technician at CVS.
“It got to the point where I was completely drained. I would go to school, go to work, go home, shower, go to sleep, and repeat,” Reyes said.
By his second semester, with no time to unwind or rest, let alone find a sense of community on campus, Reyes began questioning whether this path was sustainable. During an academic advising meeting in the education department, Reyes answered honestly when asked how things were going.
“I don’t have time to eat, and I’m struggling with my classes because I commute four hours daily. I have all these assignments; I have to read and study. I take naps on a train because I wake up at 5:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. class every day.”
Something had to give.
The next week, something did. Myrt Harper Rose Dean of the School of Education Julie Calzini pulled Reyes into her office and shared that a donor had anonymously sponsored his on-campus meal plan for the remainder of his time at 91ÖØ¿Ú. As a result, he could eat during his lengthy days on campus without worrying about the cost or having to meal-prep during his limited time at home.
The Tide Begins to Turn
At the end of that arduous second semester, Reyes had his first hands-on experience in a school setting. His first time leading students was at his own elementary school, Charles Sumner Elementary, during an internship with the ESL department. It soon became a summer he’d never forget.
“I was working with students who reminded me of myself,” shared Reyes, who is bilingual. “They were speaking to me in Spanish, and I translated for them, helping them read. I had a conversation with one of my mentors during my internship. She told me how important it is for elementary students to have male teachers—to show them that a man can be compassionate and caring.”
That first internship confirmed what Reyes needed: there was a place for him, exactly as he was, in a classroom.
With his career goals clarified, Reyes began to truly settle in. He started forming friendships—his meal plan enabled him to eat on campus with peers—and seeking out activities and clubs that interested him.
“For the longest time, I thought I was one of the only Latinos or students of color here,” Reyes shared. “I was so sheltered because I was commuting without time to meet up with anyone. Now I’ve found my people—who I eat lunch and dinner with, who I speak my native language of Spanish with. Finding my space on campus has had a huge impact on my life.”
He’s found his stride in his courses, too. Although “too many professors to name” have impacted him, his primary takeaway is how much they’ve taught him about teaching beyond what you see on the surface.
“There’s so many things that make up teaching,” Reyes said. “I’ve learned by their examples how to think and teach in a culturally diverse perspective, which is something that has been so important in my own education.”