Liam McLaughlin learned to listen to his parents a long time ago.
“During my senior year of high school, I was thinking of taking a gap year,” said McLaughlin, who enrolled at Great Bay Community College as a history major in fall 2023. “But my parents gave the order – ‘No, you are going to
In doing so, he followed a family tradition. His brother, Owen, enrolled at Great Bay as a history major in 2022 and transferred his credits to four-year Gordon College, where he will soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree and then further his education at Oxford University in Oxford, England.
McLaughlin will graduate with an Associate of Arts in History from Great Bay this year and intends to transfer his credits to the University of New Hampshire, where he will pursue his bachelor’s. Like his brother, McLaughlin expects to continue his education at the graduate-school level and eventually teach history.
He cited his Great Bay history professors Alexander Sterzin and Jordan Fansler as inspirations. “They have made a big difference in my education and in my life,” he said. “I want to replicate that in my own life. I want to do what they do and give back.”
History is a family thread. His father was a history major in college and his mother studied art history. “I’ve just always been interested in history, even from a young age. I’ve always taken an interest in history documentaries and history books.”
McLaughlin and his brother took one course together at Great Bay, a history of the Middle East taught by Fansler. They overlapped at Great Bay by one year. Liam said his brother showed him around campus, introduced him to professors and others, and gave him pointers and tips. “He prepared for me for what to expect,” he said.
Liam is returning the favor for another McLaughlin sibling, younger brother Colin, who is considering enrolling at Great Bay. Liam recently brought Colin to campus, showed him around, and introduced him to a bunch of people – just as Owen had done for Liam.
“I was just trying to get him into the ecosystem and show him the ropes. He is thinking about coming here, which is great. He was skeptical about college and further education, but it seems like he might be coming here.”
No doubt, his parents will insist on it.
