by The Cowl Editor on October 15, 2020
Features
by Max Waite ’21
News Staff
For all incoming students at Providence College, the process of getting involved with the various organizations on campus can be quite intimidating. However, getting involved with the school community is important, as it can pave the way toward many amazing experiences. By gradually developing their own networks, students have the ability to access more and more of these opportunities.
During the past three years, Matthew Petry ’21 has seized the vast amount of resources and opportunities that the College has to offer.
Growing up in Southborough, Massachusetts, Petry attended St. John’s High School, where he was involved with the football and hockey programs. Additionally, he regularly volunteered for the Be Like Brit Foundation, which leads volunteer efforts for disaster and humanitarian relief. As a volunteer for this organization, Petry traveled to Haiti for one week to learn about the Haitian culture, to build homes, and to help children within the community.
Petry stated, “The whole experience was incredibly moving. I was incredibly taken aback. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to help others, and it will be something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
During the college decision process, Petry wanted to find a similar environment to that of his high school. Petry said, “What was really important for me was the size of the campus. I noticed on my tour and through visits to PC that everyone was really friendly. It was a close-knit campus community with a Division I athletic program and a great business school. I knew that PC was the right fit for me and that I could adapt to campus life smoothly.”
Petry is studying both finance and accountancy in the Providence College School of Business, where, recently, he has been active as the healthcare sector portfolio manager in the new club Student-Led Asset Management (SLAM). Petry said, “This has been a very exciting experience. I enjoy helping students learn the fundamentals and guide them to pitch stocks they believe we should buy.”
Additionally, Petry has been an equity analyst for the Student Managed Investment Fund class in both the industrial and communications sectors, respectively.
Recently, Petry was named co-president of the Finance Society alongside Liam Faulkner ’21. Petry stated, “Our vision together is to really try and expose all the students that are a part of Finance Society to as many career paths as possible. There are so many career paths within financial services, and it is hard to receive exposure to all of them.”
To add to Petry’s impressive resume and involvement within the school community, he has been a student mentor, an Admissions Ambassador, team captain for his group of four students at the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) challenge, and has a channel on PC’s radio station, WDOM 91.3.
As an Admission Ambassador, Petry gets to meet potential new students and inform them of all that Friartown has to offer. Petry added, “It’s interesting to think that I was in these students’ position only a few years ago. I love Providence College, so I thought it would be helpful to guide high school students during this process while sharing my own experiences.”
Petry has done a remarkable job in this position, and he encourages students to learn more about joining the team.
During his freshman year, Petry and some of his friends started a radio show. By tuning into Petry’s station on Saturdays from 6-8 p.m., active and admiring listeners can experience a wide range of music from country, to rock, to rap, to R&B, along with side commentary about current events on campus.
Petry added, “The radio show has been a great opportunity for me to access a creative outlet. My friends and I all have an absolute blast, and I will cherish the memories for a really long time.”
As the ambiguity of the outcome for this school year clouds the thoughts of the entire PC community, Petry reminisces on his favorite memories in Friartown. Petry stated, “My favorite memory at Providence College was my freshman year when the men’s basketball team took down Villanova at the Dunk. I’ll never forget storming the court with all my friends, and seeing the giant cloud of pink shirts fill up the arena.”
In terms of what Petry will miss, he says, “I will miss the community as a whole (which I already do currently). I will miss seeing everyone that I don’t normally see or wouldn’t normally talk to. I’ve made a great group of friends over my past three years, and for now, I really look forward to spending more time with them and making more memories.”
Matthew Petry’s journey through Friartown should serve as an inspiration to all those who wish to make the most out of their Providence College experience. Involvement is key, for PC has opened many doors for him, including his recently accepted position at Citizens Financial Group as an investment banking analyst in their Boston office.