Kyra Bergstrom, '20 G'23 MSEd

“I was born and raised in Vermont, and from a very young age, I knew I wanted to work with animals. I started looking for colleges where I could pursue that, and I got accepted into Bay Path as a biochemistry major, which was super exciting. During spring break of my senior year, my mom and I did the college tour rounds, visiting all the places I had been accepted.

“As we pulled into the Bay Path driveway, my mom turned to me and asked, "This is the all-girls school, right?" I said, "I don't think so," but as we got closer and started walking through Empsall Hall, I saw all the imagery on the walls, and I thought, "Wait... maybe it is?" So, fun fact, I had no idea Bay Path was an all-women's school until I got there! It ended up being a total bonus, though. I definitely think my college experience would’ve been different had I gone to a co-ed school. That story always makes me laugh, because it’s one of those moments where everything just clicks into place.

“I ended up choosing Bay Path because I was accepted into the Women in STEM honors program, and the opportunities for financial aid and academic growth were just too good to pass up. I pretty much accepted on the spot during that tour and had absolutely no regrets. It was probably the best decision I could’ve made.

“Long story short, I thought I was going to be a veterinarian. But by the time I graduated, I found myself becoming a special education teacher for kindergarten through second grade. Bay Path was the place where I truly found myself, my people, and my passion. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.

“The biggest thing about Bay Path was how welcomed I felt. I never felt nervous, and I credit that to the environment. I got a tour from Christine, someone who ended up becoming one of my friends. Even though I was new to the space, I instantly felt like I belonged. Bay Path gave me a sense of community that I didn’t experience at other schools I visited. It immediately felt like home, which is something I didn’t get anywhere else.

“During my time at Bay Path, I was involved in so much! I was an RA for two years, lived on campus all four years, and graduated in 2020—though, thanks to COVID, our commencement was online. Not exactly the grand ending I envisioned, but I stuck around for my master’s and got that commencement experience later, so it all worked out. While I was an undergrad, I was heavily involved in the performing arts department. I did plays, musicals, and even joined the Chorale for a bit. That’s where I really found my group of friends. I also dabbled in other things, like the neuroscience club and even the Vagina Monologues, which was a fun experience.

“I held a lot of campus jobs too. I worked as a teaching assistant and a psychology department assistant, and even did some part-time work at a daycare off campus. But one of the most impactful things I did was the psychology cooperative program, which placed me at Girls Inc. of the Valley. That’s where I realized I wanted to work with kids. Even the opportunities I didn’t choose, like being placed at Girls Inc., ended up being life-changing.

“When I started at Bay Path, my plan was to become a vet, and I loved the biochemistry courses. But by the end of my freshman year, I started questioning if that was what I really wanted to do. The turning point came when I was in the play The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. One of my favorite people, Princy Quadros Mennella, was in that show with her daughter. Princy was the head of the neuroscience department at the time, and through conversations with her and other students, I started getting really interested in psychology.

“That’s when I decided to switch to neuropsychology. I even worked as a lab tech for a while, which was a blast. But then, I took an intro to early childhood education course as an elective, and that opened my eyes to child development and special education. It just snowballed from there. I picked up an education minor and decided to get my master’s in special education.

“One thing I remember vividly is my great-grandmother telling me when I was very young, “You should be a teacher, just like my mother. You’re always a leader, and I think you’d be amazing.” I looked at her and said, “Grandma, I am not going to be a teacher. When I’m done with school, I’m going to be done with school.” And now look at me! I’m back in school, but on the other side. It’s funny how life works out.

“During my master’s, I transitioned into online learning because of COVID, which was tough but also kind of helped me get used to the format for grad school. I worked closely with amazing people like Jen Stratton and Kristen Lech, who helped me through that transition. The relationships I built at Bay Path—both personal and professional—are things I hold onto to this day. Even after graduating, I’ve stayed connected. I’m currently working with Dr. Lech on the OSEP grant, supporting special education scholars. I’ve even thought about coming back one day as a professor.

“I think one of the biggest lessons I learned at Bay Path is how much I could push myself. My mom always said, “Diamonds are made under pressure,” and I think that’s really fitting for my time at Bay Path. I learned to balance academics, social life, work, and extracurriculars, and it made me realize how much I could handle. I came out of Bay Path more independent, more self-driven, and definitely more open to trying new things.

“Now, as a special education teacher at a charter school in Springfield, I focus on developing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. My goal is to help my students love school, just like I did. We work with a co-teaching model and I provide a lot of one-on-one instruction for kids who need extra help. I love the job, and even though I’m currently on a break because I sprained my ankle (I’d rather be at work, to be honest), I can’t wait to get back.

“Looking ahead, I see myself staying at Springfield Prep for as long as I can. They offer a lot of opportunities for professional growth, and I love that we have an extended school day and weekly professional development time. There’s a real push for growth here, which is something I deeply appreciate.

“If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to take every opportunity that comes your way every day. Not everything is going to stick, and that’s okay. But keep trying things, because eventually, something will click, and it might change the trajectory of your life—just like psychology did for me. I always joke that working with kids and animals isn’t all that different—they both have trouble communicating what they need. But at the end of the day, keep trying and see what works because if it doesn't work out, that's fine. Something will. Quite literally, Carpe diem.”