For some students at Brown, working a part-time job offers an opportunity to engage with the local community, develop their pre-professional skills and secure financial stability. The Herald spoke to four students about their experience working off-campus jobs.
Jason Mero ’25
For Jason Mero ’25, who works as a behavioral technician for Autism Learning Partners in Lincoln, R.I., having an off-campus job ensures his ability to study at Brown.
Mero was originally a member of the class of 2022, but is now part of the class of 2025 due in part to financial considerations.
“Part of that was needing to pay off this big fee with the University,” he said in an interview with The Herald. “Coming back, I knew I had to be a full-time student and a part-time worker.”
Mero said that he had to take out student loans to return to campus and needed to find “some sort of job to keep a roof over my head and put food on the table.”
As a neuroscience concentrator, Mero noted his job also aligns with his course of study and offers him a rewarding experience.
Autism Learning Partners provides services for children with autism, including preparation for grade school, developing adaptive living skills and providing speech and occupational therapy. As a behavioral technician, Mero spends 25 hours each week working with one child with autism.
Mero noted his role includes teaching communication skills and trying to eliminate maladaptive behaviors. He said he’s teaching the child “to use his words instead of his actions.”
“When I met my client back in September, he was nonverbal, and now he can communicate in full sentences,” Mero said. “It’s really rewarding to see the progress that he’s made.”
“Seeing the family get really excited and happy about the progress that we’re making with them is probably the best part of the job,” he added.
Lia Ortner ’25
Lia Ortner ’25 currently works as a barista at Coffee Exchange.
“Honestly, it’s a pretty fun job,” she said. “I already had the barista and food service experience, so I knew I was qualified for it.”
Ortner said she opted for the job due to its flexibility, location and better pay compared to a previous on-campus position.
“It’s definitely a different type of scheduling than when I had an on-campus job,” Ortner said. “Some days, I open at Coffee Exchange, which means I’m getting there at six in the morning.”
Despite the irregular schedule, Ortner said it has been manageable and relatively easy to fit into her personal schedule.
“I live closer to Coffee Exchange than I do to campus, so it makes getting into work easier,” she added.
Cecilia D’Hondt-Gorbea ’28
After applying for on-campus jobs for three months with no response, Cecilia D’Hondt-Gorbea ’28 started her work as a route setter at Rock Spot Climbing, a rock climbing gym.
As a competitive rock climber, D’Hondte-Gorbea said the flexible schedule, free membership and $16 hourly pay enticed her to work at the gym. But she added transportation was a challenge when she initially began.
“I have a bike, which makes it way easier. But before that, taking the bus was a pain because it takes 30 to 40 minutes,” D’Hondt-Gorbea said in an interview with The Herald.
Although she does not work with anyone on campus, her job has provided her with “a large community.”
Yiyun Li ’26
Yiyun Li ’26, who is concentrating in international and public affairs and music, works as a special assistant to R.I. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos.
Li said she’s hoping to “do some sort of work in a public service or social impact-type position, and I was interested in doing that through law or policy.”
“I thought that this position was perfect because I get to do some of that policy work, and I also get that experience working in government,” she said.
But balancing her schoolwork can be difficult at times, especially “during midterm season or final seasons.”
While Li said balancing her job with her studies is occasionally challenging, she said the office is flexible and accommodating, knowing her first priority is being a full-time student.
Amber Marcus-Blank is a senior staff writer covering undergraduate student life. She is a sophomore from outside of Boston studying Political Science and Public Health on the pre-law track. She is interested in working in politics and journalism in the future and enjoys playing soccer and making playlists in her free time.
