When a friend told him about the benefits of community college, Anthony Sayasane decided to return to school. From Lowell, he was led to Middlesex Community College, which is close to home. The combination of programs and activities MCC offers is providing him with a fulfilling opportunity to pursue his passion for dance.
“My overall experience at MCC has been very healing in a way,” Sayasane said. “I dropped out of high school halfway through my junior year and felt like I lost a big sense of community. Since I’ve been at MCC, getting to be in a school setting again – but this time with such an inviting and strong community – has been very rewarding and it’s something that I really cherish.”
Sayasane is an active member of the MCC community, including as the founder, director and lead choreographer of the Middlesex Dance Ensemble and MCC’s Dance Club. Working for the Office of Student Engagement, he is an Engage Specialist and Front Desk Greeter. In this position, Sayasane approves and runs club activities, as well as answers students’ questions – from giving directions to getting an ID.
One of Sayasane’s favorite roles at Middlesex is being an Orientation Leader (OL). Helping first year students adjust to college life, Sayasane is the first point-of-contact many have when coming to Middlesex. His biggest goal is to make sure new students realize the value of participating in MCC’s on-campus activities and events.
“These experiences are valuable to my education because it allows me to come to the college knowing it’s more than just my classes that are here,” Sayasane said. “Instead of my day-to-day being just focusing on class, I walk into the school knowing I may see a friend, a club member that I recently have started connecting with, or may see a faculty member who I really look forward to seeing and can rely on for anything I may need.”
At Middlesex, Sayasane is pursuing a liberal arts and sciences transfer degree with a focus on dance. Passionate about the performing arts since he was young, he enjoys taking MCC’s dance classes while completing his general education credits. Held at the college’s Academic Arts Center, Sayasane practices skills in a variety of dance forms in a state-of-the-art dance studio.
“It’s really hard to take the dance studio here for granted as it’s an amazing space,” Sayasane said. “I’d hate to think about what I’d do without it, but I don’t have to worry about something like that because MCC doesn’t hesitate to offer what it can to students.”
In addition to the comprehensive hands-on experiences he receives in class, Sayasane benefits from learning from his professors. MCC Professor Michelle Deane in particular has been an inspiring and helpful guide for Sayasane while completing his education. Outside of his classes, MCC’s Coordinator of Student Engagement Linda Thiem has also offered encouragement and guided him to take advantage of important resources at the college.
Through the college, Sayasane found a job at the Lowell Boys and Girls Club teaching dance to children. He then was able to pursue a teaching job at a dance studio in Quincy on his own. After graduating, Sayasane plans to build on these experiences and transfer to a four-year school while finding more performance opportunities.
“It goes without saying that what I’ve gained at the school is invaluable,” he said. “My experience at MCC has been eye-opening and so far, it’s been amazing. College is so much more than class and it makes my education feel more important to me.”