Senior Ryan Alvarado stands tall at Mount Saint Mary College as he prepares for graduation on May 16. After four years of balancing the soccer field, residence life leadership, and a rigorous Mathematics degree, the South Bound Brook, N.J. native is ready to calculate his next big move in the professional world.
For Mount Saint Mary College senior Ryan Alvarado of South Bound Brook, N.J., Commencement later this month represents more than just receiving a degree; it’s the culmination of a rigorous, four-year strategy he began drafting the moment he stepped on campus.
A hallmark of his time at the Mount has been balancing the grit of being a collegiate athlete with the precision of being a Mathematics major with a concentration in Actuarial Science and a minor in IT. In fact, Alvarado came to the Mount with a clear vision: “Freshman me was on the hunt to be able to play soccer and pursue my academic career.”
While soccer was a primary draw, Alvarado quickly expanded his horizons after his first semester. On campus, he’s served in many roles, such as Admissions Ambassador, Peer Tutor, and Resident Assistant.
“The main reason why I wanted to get involved on campus was to give back to my family for all the help and push that they’ve been giving me, and build my own character as a person,” he explained.
His ongoing commitment to excellence is evident in his academic record, having earned a spot on the Dean’s List several times. Alvarado credits much of his academic success to the faculty, particularly Jennifer Bready, dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education and professor of Mathematics, whom he had for classes like Calculus 3, Applied Stats, and Intro to Cryptography.
“I love all the math professors, but if there’s someone that I clicked with the best, it was definitely Dr. Bready,” Alvarado said. He noted that her cryptography class was his favorite by far: “I’m a big kind of puzzle guy. And these, you could consider them brain teasers because you’re enciphering and deciphering code.”
Alvarado looks back fondly on campus traditions like bonfires and Spirit Week. He notes that the connections he made, especially with his teammates, provided a vital foundation for his success.
“I came in with a group of friends,” he said, referring to the soccer team. “I had people I could rely on and that’s where it helped with my foundation, where if I needed someone to talk to, I had them.”
Looking toward the future, Alvarado is already gaining professional experience through a remote six-week internship with T1 Finance, based in Atlanta, Ga. He plans to pursue a career as an actuarial analyst, a field that combines his love for mathematics with data software like Excel and Structured Query Language (SQL).
As he prepares to walk the Mount’s Commencement stage on Saturday, May 16, Alvarado’s final takeaway isn’t found in a complex algorithm – it’s in the mirror. Reflecting on a journey that transformed him from an inexperienced freshman into a disciplined campus leader, he offers some powerful advice to the next generation of Knights.
“Don’t take what you're given for granted,” he warns.
For a mathematician who built his life on precision, the most critical variable remains personal responsibility: “I tell myself to take more accountability for what I do. Own up to it, be proud of what you do regardless. Accountability goes a long way.”