Tiffany Haines: My major is Philosophy. I began at UMass as Political Science major, but I took a couple philosophy classes and I was hooked. It’s a rigorous course of study and I thought it would be wonderful preparation for law school.

CLA:What jobs or extra curricular activities do you participate in?

TH: I work part-time as an office manager at The Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership, a non-profit that is based in the College of Management at UMass Boston. As for extra curricular activities, I don’t have much time to participate in activities on campus since when I’m not in class I’m working and I have to leave at 5pm everyday to pick up my son from daycare. I do, however, participate in various leadership activities in the One Family Scholars program, particularly the speaker’s bureau component of it. I’ve been a scholar for the past four years and I’ve had the opportunity to speak about my experience within the program to potential funders, college representatives, and even legislators. I also attend monthly day-long leadership development retreats, and twice-yearly weekend retreats. Most recently I had the privilege of traveling to Washington DC with representatives from One Family Scholars and the Center for Social Policy at UMass for the release of the national “Bridging the Gaps” study.

(As a side note, One Family Scholars is a scholarship program for formerly homeless or at risk female heads-of-households in Massachusetts. It combines flexible financial support with leadership training to assist women in reaching their educational goals and achieving financial stability.)

CLA: Have these activities informed your classroom studies and if so, how?

TH: My participation in One Family Scholars and the relationships I have fostered with the other women in the program has focused me in my studies and career goals. In the program there are 125 other women who share my day to day struggles and frustrations in balancing work, school, and raising families, but who have nevertheless gone on to achieve at incredible odds. They keep me motivated and show me that success is possible if the will to work hard and see things through to the end is there. I would also say that the confidence and poise I have gained from the speaking engagements where I’ve represented the Scholars program, and the knowledge I’ve accumulated about pertinent social issues, like family homeless, as well as the understanding I now have of legislative processes and the like, have likewise informed my studies and helped me to become a more engaged and successful student.

CLA: How did you come to UMass Boston?

TH: I transferred to UMass from Bay State College, where I earned an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. Bay State has a satellite school in my hometown of Gloucester, and the convenience it afforded me allowed me to begin taking night classes there when my son was only a few months old. It was a rewarding experience in many ways. I was taught by professionals in my area, such as police and correction officers and attorneys. It was there I met a wonderful professor who served as an Assistant District Attorney for Essex County. She took me under her wing, bringing me to court with her one day to observe the proceedings and speak with the judges. And it was she who initially encouraged me to apply to law school. To my surprise and delight I was honored as valedictorian and had the opportunity to speak to my fellow graduates at the commencement ceremonies in Boston.

CLA: What professors or classes have you enjoyed the most?

TH: I must first say that I cannot stress enough how pleased I have been with the philosophy department at UMass. The professors are phenomenal; they are always willing to meet and have discussions with you outside of class, and it just comes across that they really care deeply about their students and the department. There is a real sense of community and that’s something I never expected. I’ve taken probably over a dozen philosophy classes and so many of them stand out in my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of symbolic logic, and I even had the chance to take an advanced logic class in metatheory last year. I also took a class on Kant last semester, and though I was at first intimidated by the complexity and depth of the material, it ended up being one of my favorite classes. As to the professors themselves, all the professors I’ve had have been outstanding, but there is one in particular I am quite enamored with, professor Lande. After I first had Lande for Ancient philosophy in the fall of 2006, not a semester has gone by where I have not been seated in one of his classes. He is just a top-rate professor in every sense, and he inspires me to continually achieve and has instilled in me a love of philosophy that I will carry with me always. He is also my advisor and his support goes far beyond the classroom or our office meetings. He has even reached out to his former students on my behalf, introducing me to two in particular, one of whom was attending Suffolk Law and the other who had recently graduated and was working in private practice. For me Lande is one of those few teachers in life that some of us are so lucky to have, who leave an everlasting imprint on our lives.

CLA:. What are your plans after graduation?

TH: I graduate in August of this year, and I plan to then work full-time and concentrate on studying for the LSAT and applying to law school for admittance in the fall of 2009. My interests within the field lie in family law and litigation.

CLA: What advice do you have for current or future students?

TH: My time here at UMass has been extraordinarily rewarding and enriching, I believe due to my maturity as an older student and my life experiences. I consistently strive to challenge myself and work to my fullest capacity. For current and future students, I would encourage you to approach your years at UMass not just as a necessary means to an end or as a stairway leading up to the doorway through which “real life” begins. Real life has begun. Your time here matters greatly. The work ethic and character you will have the opportunity to foster here will prove essential for maintaining your resolve when times get tough and will allow you to rise above when others may fall. No one in life who is successful “just got lucky”. Luck is where opportunity meets preparation. Your time for preparation is now. And when you graduate from UMass Boston, hold your head high in all your endeavors, for the quality of education you received here is far superior than its reputation boasts.