Agnes Frias, Fitchburg State University class of 2022, is an active resident youth leader with Home City Development Inc. (HCDI). This fall, she is a busy junior at Fitchburg State University, serious about her biology major, and engaged in a number of clubs promoting social justice and student safety both on and off the campus. During summer and winter break, Frias lives with her mother at Tapley Court, is an active HCDI youth leader, and mentors other youth residents to ensure they have the same opportunities that she’s had. In 2019 Frias helped with block parties, Enchanted Circle programs, and other activities; and in 2020 she worked hard in the Tapley Garden as well as with the online summer curriculum.
Sister Anna Muhammad of NOFA Mass leads the Tapley Garden programming. She praised Frias’ work over the past year. “Agnes has a thirst for knowledge…I appreciate the diligence and hard work she put into every task that she was assigned. Agnes attended NOFA’s (Northeast Organic Farming Association) entire Virtual Summer Conference [2+ weeks]. I was impressed by her questions, and her desire to implement what she gleaned from the workshops in Tapley Garden. It was exciting to watch her growth in this area.”
Frias graduated from Springfield High School of Science and Technology in 2017 and began at Springfield Technical Community College that fall. In September 2019 she transferred to Fitchburg State University. She is now back on campus for her second year with a hybrid class model. Frias is a biology major with a concentration in health sciences and a minor in chemistry, a part of the pre-med/pre-health program. Notably, her goal is to work in the lab of an organization like the Center for Disease Control and help with outbreaks like the Coronavirus. Her favorite class so far has been Genetics. “The labs were so fun,” she said and explained that she learned valuable hands on research techniques that she will apply in her career. This semester she will be taking Organic Chemistry and Ecology. Restrictions because of the Coronavirus have definitely added stress to her school year but she is maintaining a positive attitude. She loves her major and she continues to explore other classes as well. “Last fall I took a Holocaust class and in the spring I took a puppeteer class! It was really interesting.” She will take a Portuguese class this semester.
Frias is exceptionally involved on campus. Through the Student Government Association (SGA) she is the liaison to the university’s Capital Planning Department for the second year in a row. She is also Vice Chair of Social Events on SGA’s Events and Collaborations Committee, and the Secretary of SGA’s Fincom committee which oversees finances for all clubs on campus. She is active with MASSPIRG Students, an activist group that ensures students shape their future through student skills, opportunities, and training. Through MASSPIRG Frias has been helping students to register to vote, advocates for low cost textbooks, and she has been involved in other initiatives as wide-reaching as the ecologic impact of disappearing bee habitats. Frias is a campus tour guide (now online) and a certified first responder with the EMS club (Emergency Medical Services), she completed her training last year. She is the Student Representative on the AUC (All University Committee) Student Affairs Committee, as well as a member of the university’s Improv Club. All clubs now meet virtually.
While in Springfield, Frias encourages the HCDI resident youth to reach for their next step, whether that is a great college or a great job. She loves her college experience and wants to make sure that they have the same opportunities. “A lot of people don’t know that [scholarships] are an option,” she explained that there are many scholarships out there. If the scholarships aren’t advertised, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. She encourages her peers to do some digging. Another myth she wishes to dispel is that students think they can only apply their senior year. “You can apply for scholarships at any time,” and she encourages them to apply early. “You can apply in 9th or 10th grade, don’t wait until you’re a senior.”
If a peer prefers to apply for a job, Frias helps them with their resume. She encourages them to look at their work with HCDI as an avenue towards a job they love, they just have to use the right language. “When you’re applying for a job or for scholarships, you have to put your best self forward…[emphasize] what you can bring to the table.”