With a big personality and a contagious smile, postgraduate Andreas Bello celebrated his graduation from the Community Access Program (CAP) on June 11.
Bello has demonstrated significant development throughout his time in CAP. As a freshman, he was much more reserved and had trouble controlling his emotions, but he has grown into a well-rounded individual who is more than ready to take on any challenges his future holds.
“Knowing him freshman year and knowing him now, he is definitely one of the students who is a great example of what a CAP program can do for these young adults,” Special education teacher Caitlin Hynes said. “Now he just figures out routines really fast, he learns jobs really fast, he works hard until they are finished and he has really matured.”
Bello is a kindhearted student who has a very positive attitude and is always enthusiastic, whether it be dancing his heart out at the Best Buddies yearly Friendship Ball or simply chatting with his peers and close friends.
“It’s amazing to watch him get excited about things,” Hynes said. “He can be super enthusiastic and he is also very sweet, very kind and a good friend to other people in the program. He is very quick to try to help [his classmates] if they are having trouble.”
He also has a passion for music, something that he hopes to pursue in the future.
“He loves music, so if there’s a song playing you will always find him dancing along with it or singing along with it,” Hynes said.
Looking ahead, Bello will be living on campus and performing music at Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, Mass. This program requires a high level of independence and has a low acceptance rate. However, his numerous vocational opportunities, letters of recommendation and the way he was able to present himself all contributed to Bello’s admission.
“It is just so awesome that he is going to have this really amazing opportunity that is only going to help him become even more awesome,” Hynes said.
Although everybody is proud of Bello for his accomplishments and are looking forward to everything he will do in the future, he will still be greatly missed by those who were lucky enough to get to know him, specifically for his personality.
“Everyone is very, very sad to see him go,” Hynes said. “This is going to be a very difficult graduation for a lot of students and staff members…He was just always one of the most, if not the most, enthusiastic one out there.”
