By David Nathan

Kylie Murphy ’27 wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to avoid the worst of the traffic on the daily commute from her home in Norton, Massachusetts, to the Lasell campus. In addition to taking six classes each semester soe she can graduate in three years, she works as a full-time administrative assistant at an accounting firm. The 23-year-old accounting major is accustomed to rising early, working hard, and maintaining a busy schedule. After graduating from high school in 2019, Murphy spent four years in the U.S. Marines as an ammunition technician, based at Camp Pendleton in California. She went on two deployments — to the Middle East and to Japan — and attends Lasell with the assistance of the GI Bill.

How did your stint in the Marine Corps contribute to your personal development?
After growing up in Norton, where people are from similar backgrounds, it was interesting to meet people from all over the country who grew up in situations much different than my own. I gained a greater appreciation for what I have and became a more empathetic person. I also developed my leadership skills and problem-solving ability.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in the Marines?
In boot camp I was a member of an all-female platoon, but in my first unit I was one of three women out of about 1,000 Marines. It was overwhelming at the beginning, particularly on my first deployment, when I was stationed on a small ship off the coast of Somalia. I made sure to surround myself with people who would stand up for me.

How did you end up at Lasell?
My sister-in-law Megan Knotts Murphy ’22 recommended Lasell to me. What she told me has proven true: The professors are totally engaged with the students, and they make even the most difficult course material easier to understand.

Does your experience differ from your classmates who came to Lasell directly from high school?
I feel like learning is easier for me now because I am able to put a lot of the material from class into context due to what I have experienced. I can relate what I learn in business management classes to being a leader and subordinate in the Marines. In one class, I wrote a paper about a colonel I admired for his hands-on leadership, open-door policy, and caring about us as Marines and people.

How do you handle an enhanced course load and a full-time job?
I have always had a strong work ethic and been good at time management. In high school, I played sports and worked (at Dunkin’ and CVS Pharmacy). Being in the Marines made me realize how important it was to get things done right away so you have time when you are thrown into situations that you were not expecting.

Image by Chloe Kinteris '23