Throwforward Thursday: Anthony, Martine & Hannah

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time to profile three more seniors! This week, by sheer coincidence, we're focused on the B’s  -- Bradley, Bjoernstad, and Burke.

Anthony Bradley ’17, from Norwood, has committed to Manhattan College, where he will build on his interest in leadership and finance as an Economics and Global Business major. As a small Catholic school located in the city, Anthony was drawn to the similarities between Saint Joseph Prep and his future college of choice. It’s also a family affair for Anthony; he will be joining his older sister, Amelia, a rising senior who majors in Biology at Manhattan. While he looks forward to shared meals with his sister, he’s most excited to meet new people and explore all that New York City has to offer. From the frantic pace to the endless cultural and professional opportunities, Anthony is ready to take on the big city! For all graduating seniors, leaving high school is a big transition, but Anthony notes, “I wouldn’t be as prepared for college as I am if it weren’t for SJP.”

Martine Bjoernstad ’17 is a Norwegian international student at SJP and a soon-to-be freshman at Boston University! Accepted into the College of Arts and Sciences, she will leverage her global education as an International Relations major. Martine joined the Saint Joseph Prep community as a junior, planning only to study for a year in the U.S., but she fell in love with SJP and decided to finish high school and apply to college right here in Boston! Already thinking about the future, Martine has aspirations of law school after BU, where she can pursue her passion for justice with a background in international relations. Having lived and studied away from home for the past two years, the transition to college for Martine will differ from that of her domestic peers, but she knows she’ll miss the close-knit community and having the opportunity to know everyone at SJP.

Hannah Burke ’17 is headed to Boston College, where she will study Applied Psychology in the Lynch School of Education. A native of Newton, she might enjoy the quickest trip home for laundry and home-cooked meals, but Hannah is most excited to experience the independence and opportunity to branch out that college provides... so her parents might want to temper their expectations for frequent visits! As a freshman at SJP, Hannah had her older sister, Lizzie ’14, to help show her the ropes around campus, and she looks forward to that same experience at BC! Here at Saint Joseph Prep, Hannah has played the same role for her younger sister, Allie ’20, as well as being student body Vice President, a captain of the Soccer and Track & Field teams, and an active participant in Campus Ministry. She is completing her Senior Service Project at BC’s Campus School, assisting children with disabilities, which is a volunteer position she hopes to continue as a student. 

The Commencement exercises on June 1 get closer by the day. And as this transition starts to feel a little more real for the seniors, so too does the excitement... and potentially the nerves! As Anthony noted, however, the Class of 2017 is well prepared to go out and make their mark on the world. Check back in next week for another edition of Throwforward Thursday!