Reacher Ssozi

“Being selected as the student commencement speaker truly means so much to me,” said Ssozi. “As a college student who has balanced school, work, family responsibilities, and personal challenges throughout my journey, it feels incredibly rewarding and meaningful to represent my graduating class during such an important milestone. I see it not only as a personal accomplishment, but also as a reflection of the resilience, growth, and determination shared by so many students at MassBay.”

Ssozi began taking classes at MassBay in the summer of 2020 while she was still a student at Burlington High School. At the time, her mother recommended MassBay because she had taken prerequisite courses here while pursuing her nursing degree. With her encouragement, Ssozi saw it as an opportunity to experience advanced coursework. She said she was impressed by how much professors cared about students and how they understood their needs to help them succeed. Ssozi enrolled full time and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society in spring 2024.

While at MassBay, Ssozi wrote a poem, “The Pearl of Africa”, which was selected from more than 4,500 submissions nationwide for inclusion in the 30th edition of Nota Bene, Phi Theta Kappa’s honors anthology. Born in Uganda, Ssozi moved to the United States at age five. She said writing “The Pearl of Africa” was “a way to honor my heritage and share the cultural richness of Uganda with a broader audience.” The piece highlights the beauty