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This month, 23 students—all bound for bright futures—will graduate from BWH’s Student Success Job Program (SSJP). In this two-part series, BWH Bulletin highlights current and former SSJP students.
Mamadou Diallo works in the Smith Research Lab.
Boston Latin Academy senior Mamadou Diallo has one regret from his four years of high school: he wishes he had joined the Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) before his junior year. Yet, in just two years with the program, Diallo has accomplished an extraordinary amount.
The 18-year-old has become a dependable staff member of the Rheumatology, Immunology & Allergy Department’s Smith Research Lab, where he is often entrusted to perform duties that his classmates are just reading about in books. And, after taking advantage of SSJP’s after school academic assistance, Diallo’s grades and test scores propelled to new levels. He was accepted into nine colleges, including Brown University, where he is headed in the fall.
“SSJP has given me the opportunity to be a more mature and independent person,” said Diallo, who plans to double-major in biochemistry and international relations. “Many people my age have jobs and they do the work because they are afraid of being fired. Here, you work and give your best because the work is interesting and challenging.”
A program within the Center for Community Health and Health Equity, SSJP is a year-round internship program that each year matches 75 Boston high school students with professional mentors in more than 60 BWH departments.
“There have been so many people that have helped me,” Diallo said. “I don’t have words to say how thankful I am to the staff of SSJP, who provide me with academic guidance, and to my lab mentor, Dr. Michael Gurish. He is very patient with me and never gets tired of showing me how to do something.”
Diallo, a native of Guinea, says his past experiences have contributed to his desire to pursue a career in a science field.
“Coming from a third world country, you are aware of the damage diseases like tuberculosis and malaria have on people,” he said. “My uncle died of AIDS back in Guinea, so that always reminds me that I have to do my part in helping those who need help.”
If he has some free time in the next few years, Diallo also plans to work on his personal goal of learning 30 languages. He already has five under his belt, including French, Arabic, English and two native African languages.
“It’s a big challenge, and many people will think it can’t be done, but I know I can do it,” he said.
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