by Emma Strempfer '24 on November 4, 2023
Editor-in-Chief
News
Senior Bryan McGinn is the 2023-2024 Student Congress Executive president, but his on-campus involvement and accomplishments do not end there. With plans to become a physician, hard work, organization, and care for others are the core themes of his time at Providence College.
McGinn hails from Queens, New York. He is a biology and health policy management double major. PC was not on his radar at first, but it was, “the beautiful campus, the people, and what the institution stood for” that won him over. He was also connected with a now-alumni student who raved about all the opportunities PC had to offer, which made his decision much easier.
He joined Student Congress in his freshman year as a committee member, never expecting to eventually become an executive. As so many in the class of 2024 experienced, COVID-19 restrictions made those first few months at PC very difficult. McGinn joined Congress because he felt it was a good way to get involved. “I kind of went for it,” he says “…it felt like the right thing for me.” During his sophomore and junior years, he served as a class representative.
His favorite aspect of being on Student Congress is the people. He says, “They are all just so passionate and caring…everyone truly wants to help out the school… it is really nice working alongside those people.”
When asked about one thing he would change, he says that he wants to see Congress have a better strategy for communication with the student body. Oftentimes, Student Congress feels like a dim background noise to those not involved. However, McGinn says Congress is always working hard to pass legislation, fight for the needs of students, and make life better for everyone in the PC community. He says, “We don’t just plan the dances— which we love to do, but it’s not the only thing we do and I want people to know about those other things.”
He is proud of quite a few accomplishments during his time being in Congress. After some thinking, he decided that he is most proud of his work on the “Advising Restructuring Task Force” and the work Congress has done in opening the new Student Success Center.
On the whole, working on Student Congress has given McGinn great connections on campus to students, faculty, and the administration. He credits Congress with providing him with an opportunity to grow as a communicator and problem solver. “I am able to interact with all different kinds of people,” he says, “Facing conflict in a high leadership position is something that has taught me a lot about active problem solving, too, and is a really useful skill that I will use when I become a doctor.”
McGinn’s campus involvements are not exclusive to Student Congress. He has worked as an Orientation Leader for the past three years and was a Peer Ministry leader during his sophomore and junior years. He is also going into his third year as a biology teaching assistant.
McGinn wants to pursue a career as a doctor and this summer he worked as an EMT with an East Providence private ambulance service. His role was to be part of interfacility transports. “I liked it a lot…It was very rewarding to see people who were very sick being brought to some sort of recovery.”
McGinn has wanted to be a doctor since he was a child. “Lots of people in my family are doctors and it was always something I’ve aspired to be; to help people.”
As for his final year at PC, McGinn has a lot to look forward to. Apart from his big role as a Congress executive, he is excited to make the most of senior year—going to events like 224 Night, Senior Ring Weekend, and basketball games. He is on the committee for planning SRW and giving the seniors a special experience is important to him.
While focused on his own senior year, he has advice for first years as well. He says, “It is okay not to know what you want to get involved in because there are so many options. Take it all in and find something you truly love to do. Getting all the experiences possible out of college— that is what is really important.”