Messina Purpose initiative
In Fall 2024, Messina College launched the Messina Purpose Initiative (MPI) using the TrueNorth@Messina curriculum. This innovative mentoring program, designed to support first-generation college students, was co-created with Messina College leaders to align with institutional goals. The program embodies the True North approach, cultivating purpose and belonging through connection, experiential activities, and meaningful reflection.
The program is built on an iterative framework that evolves to meet student needs. In Spring 2025, the curriculum integrated feedback from mentors, mentees, and Messina College stakeholders, ensuring a responsive and community-driven approach.
By blending reflective spaces with dynamic group activities, TrueNorth@Messina moves beyond traditional support models. This distinctive approach empowers students to explore their identity, build meaningful connections, and engage deeply with their expanding communities at Messina and Boston College.
Grounded in the Jesuit tradition of formative education, TrueNorth@Messina equips students to:
-
Connect Meaningfully: Build authentic relationships through dialogue and shared experiences, fostering a sense of belonging.
-
Learn Actively: Engage in hands-on, experiential activities that inspire collaboration and self-discovery.
-
Reflect Deeply: Explore personal identity, values, and aspirations through intentional reflection.
By providing Messina students with a near-peer mentoring model specially designed to support first-generation students, we aim to do more than just help them navigate the logistical and academic hurdles of college. Through weekly small group meetings with near peers (4-year-degree-seeking students at Boston College), Messina students were introduced to the hidden curriculum of Higher Ed while helping them thrive through authentic connection, self-discovery, and purpose development.