Are cockapoos your favorite dog breed? Do you know how to fish? Do you believe water is wet? If any of these questions make you curious about who might have these qualities, meet Ms. Grace Morelli, an Admissions Counselor based at University of Massachusetts Boston! By the end of this interview, you will not only gain valuable insight on what it takes to succeed in the field of higher education, but you’ll also discover how she balances the demands of her profession with her life outside of work. Whether she’s leading campus tours, visiting high schools, or unwinding with video games or a good book, this interview offers an opportunity to hear directly from her about her experiences – and how she would define “success.”

Meet Ms. Grace Morelli!

Q: Tell me about your background.

“I am a Chinese adoptee who was raised in Shrewsbury, MA. I attended Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, MA and then went to the University of New Hampshire for my Bachelor’s in Mathematics Education and my Master’s in Elementary Education. I am currently am pursuing my second Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you own a pet? If so, what is their name and how has your pet impacted your life? Share a bit about them.

“I don’t currently own a pet, but I had a dog named Lucy all throughout my childhood who I adored so much! She was a cockapoo and was the cutest dog. She would cuddle with me all the time and made me feel calm and happy.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What’s a fun or unique fact about you? What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies, passions, unknown talents, or special interests? If so, what are they?

“I like to go fishing! When I was younger I would fish in the pond at Dean Park with my father. Recently, I’ve gone down south to go shark fishing and catch some bigger fish!” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Did you join any extracurriculars when you were younger? Any after school clubs, organizations, programs, or sports in the past? If so, explain.

“When I was at Notre Dame Academy I was one of the cofounders of the Robotics Club. I also participated in the Art Club and ran track and cross country.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you have any notable achievements or awards that you’ve received in the past?

“I would definitely say that my Master’s degree in Education is something I am very proud of. I put in a lot of time and energy in my schoolwork.”  – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What were some challenges you had to overcome during High School? Any advice to Highlanders?

“One challenge I faced in high school was that I wanted to follow the crowd. Meaning, I wanted to do what all my friends were doing. However, when it came to the college search process I knew I wanted to go to a college for me, and not just where all my friends were going. I wanted to find a university that checked off all my boxes (location, program, size, etc.) My advice for Highlanders is to make sure you do everything for you. Don’t do something just because everyone else is doing it. Make it special for you.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What are your hot takes right now?

“My hot take is that water is wet. I define something as wet if it has H2O molecules on it. Water is comprised of many molecules. If it was a singular water molecule by itself then it is not wet.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you have any tips on self care, and how do you approach it? What’s your daily routine like? Why do you believe it’s important?

“I just downloaded an app called Finch where you enter in goals or habits and every time you complete it you earn points towards growing your baby finch bird. You get to customize the bird, name it, and customize the habits you would like to track. I am currently on a 2 month streak and it has definitely helped me create better habits. In addition to that, something that is important to me is setting aside time for myself. Whether it is just watching my favorite tv show, playing video games, or even reading a book, it’s important to make time with yourself, because that is how you learn more about yourself.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What’s something you feel nostalgic about? Is there anything you feel very grateful towards? What are some of the most memorable school moments or events that have still stuck with you?

“When I was at Notre Dame Academy we had free periods where we could leave campus. My friends and I would go to Bagel Alley all the time to grab their bagels. I know now they are closed, but every time I drive past that area I am reminded of good times.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you have any music recommendations?

“In terms of a popular artist, I like SZA. In terms of a more upcoming artist, I like to listen to UMI. UMI is a fusion of indie pop, folk, and RnB.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you want to share a few words about a loved one? What role do relationships—whether with family, friends, or colleagues—play in your life? Do they inspire, motivate, or offer valuable lessons to you?

“Everyone has different experiences with loved ones. Might be friends, family, caretaker, even a teacher. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing family who cared about my well-being and my academics. No matter who your loved one is, appreciate everything they do for you even the small things. Check in with them now and then to see how they are doing. Keeping that connection is important.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

What Does Ms. Grace Morelli Do for a Living?

Q: How did you get started in your current profession? What attracted you to your current line of work, and has your passion for it changed over time?

“Originally I got my degree at UNH to pursue teaching. I taught elementary for a couple years, but then decided to make a shift into higher education. During my time at UNH, I was a tour guide and had internships within the admissions office, so when I was looking into jobs within higher education, I started looking at admission counseling. I enjoy my job a lot because I get to read more about other people and provide access to a college education.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you at your job? How has your role evolved since you first started? What skills do you think are the most essential for success in your profession? What do you find most fulfilling about your current position?

“My current position has different responsibilities depending on the time of year. In the fall is when I get to travel to over 100 high schools and get to talk about UMass Boston. I traveled to Doherty last fall and will see you again this coming fall! In the winter is when we read all of your college applications! The spring time is still reading applications, but also hosting events like Accepted Student’s Day so that students can get a glance of what UMass Boston is like. The summer time is more of a slow period for us, but is also the time when we start planning our travels for the fall.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you have any community work, volunteer work, or internship experiences you want to share with us?

“Because I wanted to work with children, a lot of my work experience was either babysitting, nannying, or working at the after school program of my old middle school.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Do you have any role models or people you look up to? Who would you consider a mentor or someone who has guided you in your career?

“I have multiple people who I look up to. A good amount of them are/were admissions counselors from UNH because they have helped me become who I am today and still develop the skills needed for this job. Multiple of them were my letters of recommendation! It is so good to see them on the road at other college fairs.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What has been one of the most difficult decision you’ve had to make in life, and how did you overcome it? How about an experience that made you change the way you see the world? What has helped you grow the most?

“Something that has helped me grow the most is self reflection. Reflection is so important to learn more about yourself and want you need to thrive. It helps you understand what you look for in things and helps you to become more grateful for what you have. Having this mindset has changes my life for the better.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: How would you define success, and do you believe you can reach success despite bad grades? Would you say it’ll be a more difficult experience than others with a good education? What role does having an education play on an individual’s future?

“Success to me is being happy and proud of what I have accomplished or at least attempted to accomplish. I still feel proud of myself while working on something, even if I don’t “win” or “finish” because to me knowing that I put my best effort in is all that matters to me. Some people see success as money and getting good grades, I see it as security and happiness.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What keeps you grounded? How do you keep a balance between your job and your personal life? If you could change one thing about your life path, would you, and what would it be?

“What keeps me grounded is protecting my me time. When I was a teacher I struggled with work life balance. Switching jobs, it is a lot easier for me to not check more work emails after work hours and making sure I am protecting my own time to do things that I enjoy or running errands. When I was a teacher there were important things that I would have to check in on after hours and on weekends.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What has been the biggest lesson or learning experience in your career/profession so far? How do you stay motivated in your work, especially when working with a team, or when experiencing tough times?

“A lesson I learned earlier on and before I even started reading applications was that I need to read each new application with a fresh set of eyes. During reading season, we read a lot of applications and it can be a lot staring at the computer screen. I remind myself that every application is someone’s opportunity at a college education and that motivates me to make sure I am reading a student’s application with a clean slate.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What advice would you give someone considering entering your field of work? What are some common misconceptions people have about your profession? What personal qualities do you believe have helped you succeed in your profession?

“Some advice I would give for someone who would like to work in the Admissions field is to be prepared to travel a lot. I read applications in Central Mass, CT, Southern States, and the US Territories. I have traveled to Central Mass, CT, and Florida. Sometimes we spend weeks in a hotel in a different state away from friends and family. It is fun to explore new towns, but also was bummed not seeing friends and family for that long. Travelling also depends on what position you have, what university you’re at, and what territories you cover.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: What changes do you see in your industry, and how are you preparing for them? Do you have any goals for the future? Where do you see yourself in your career in the next 5-10 years?

“Changes that I see is the use of AI. As a college representative, I will say that we can tell if your college essay was written with AI. So, I encourage you to not use that tool. The college essay is the portion of your college application were we get to learn more about YOU. Your transcript will let us know how you are performing academically, but we want to know more about you as an individual, a sibling, a member of your community. AI can’t write that for you. That is 100% your story and experience.” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Can you share a story where your job made a positive impact on someone or your community? What are you most passionate about?

“There are so many great things about UMass Boston. We value providing access to a college education while making it affordable for students. We announced our Beacon Pledge where depending on household income students can come to UMass Boston for free tuition. Students just need to apply to the university and apply to financial aid. Your financial aid will let us know if you are eligible for the free tuition. This program we have has helped tons of students come to college and get a degree at a very low cost, and being debt free!” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

“I would like to give a shoutout to Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Menchaca! They were my teachers in high school!” – Ms. Grace Morelli.

After hearing what Ms. Grace Morelli had to share with us today, what can you take away from this interview? Are you interested in listening to SZA or UMI’s discography now? Do you find yourself craving some delicious bagels right now? Not only did this interview offer a fresh perspective on pursuing a higher education, but it also emphasized the value of staying true to one’s individuality and self reflection. Thank you for following along, and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! To read more articles, scroll down and click the ‘The Journey to Success’ tag in red! Tune in for more articles.

Get in Touch with Ms. Grace Morelli!

• • Email: grace.morelli@umb.edu
  • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/grace-morelli/grace.morelli@umb.edu