For Andrea Bedoni, a Master of Science in Biotechnology graduate, being selected as the student speaker for the 2026 College of Science Graduate Celebration is both an honor and a responsibility.
“To be selected as the student speaker for my graduation is an immense honor,” Bedoni says. “It means having the opportunity to share what my time at Northeastern truly looked like: the pivots, the growth, and the moments of doubt that quietly became moments of clarity.”
As she prepares to take the stage, Bedoni reflects on a journey shaped not by a single path, but by the willingness to embrace change and uncertainty.
Leaning Into the Unconventional
During her time at Northeastern, Bedoni learned to embrace what set her apart.
“There is something unconventional about being a biotechnology student who wants to work in consulting,” she explains. “It raises eyebrows and invites questions. Early on, it also invited self-doubt.”
Over time, that uncertainty became a source of confidence.
“The more I leaned into what made my path unconventional, the more I realized that was exactly my advantage,” she says. “I stopped trying to fit the mold and started building my own.”
She credits this shift as one of the most important outcomes of her graduate experience, gaining not only technical skills but the confidence to use them on her own terms.
Creating Community with Intention
Beyond academics, Bedoni is most proud of the communities she helped build.
“Belonging is not passive,” she says. “It is something you create, intentionally, for yourself and for others.”
From founding a Women Entrepreneurship Chapter (WE x Northeastern) to contributing to Graduate Student Government and participating in Girls Into VC, an organization that empowers women to explore and excel in venture capital, she focused on creating spaces where others could connect and grow.
“The right community does not just support your growth,” she adds. “It accelerates it.”
Growth Through Challenge
Some of Bedoni’s most defining moments came from being pushed outside her comfort zone, particularly in the classroom.
One experience that stands out is Big Data for Cities with Professor Dan O’Brien.
“I walked into that class with no background in R (a programming language for statistical computing and data visualization) and walked out having coded my way through nearly 200,000 data entries,” she says.
What made the course especially impactful was the clarity of expectations.
“There was no ambiguity, just a clear and consistent push to become a better, more technical version of myself,” she explains. “That class taught me that being challenged is not something to avoid. It is exactly where growth happens.”
Moments That Mattered
Some of Bedoni’s most meaningful memories came from experiences beyond the classroom.
She recalls organizing an event with Girls Into VC to highlight women making an impact in the corporate world.
“What made it special was everything that went into it, the late nights, the cold emails, and the uncertainty of not knowing if it would come together,” she says.
When it did, nearly 70 students attended.
“Standing in that room, I realized the work I was doing here was not staying inside the classroom. It was reaching people, creating space, and building something that mattered.”
Stepping Into What’s Next
As graduation approaches, Bedoni reflects on what she will miss most.
“The people,” she says. “My professors, my friends, and everyone I had the privilege of collaborating with.”
She credits the Northeastern community not only for its ambition, but for its willingness to support one another.
After graduation, Bedoni will join McKinsey & Company in Mexico City, where she plans to explore work in renewable energy and the intersection of biotechnology and healthcare.
Looking back, her advice is simple.
“Stay a student,” she says. “Walk into your master’s program with openness. The people you learn from outside the classroom will shape who you become.”
