Julia Prior was born in Boston on July 7, 2000. She gets the best of both worlds living part time with her mother in West Roxbury and in Roslindale with her father. As an older sister, she learned at a young age how to be reliable, and in her brother’s eyes, a bit controlling. If you’re ever trying to find Julia, she is likely rowing on the Charles. She is the captain of the BLS Varsity Crew team and has been rowing since the eighth grade. Julia hopes to continue her rowing career in college.
As a rising senior anticipating the college process, Julia hopes her experience with the Ward Fellowship will help her explore a future career working in the public sector. The Holy Name Youth Service Project, a volunteer group that visits organizations around Boston to help others, inspired Julia’s interest in public service. This past February, Julia was able to go on a service trip to New Orleans with the youth group to help others outside of the Boston community. Public service is a way for her to make a difference in other people’s lives. In addition to being interested in government and politics, Julia is passionate about the environment and finding ways that Boston can be more sustainable. The government is heavily involved in environmental policy and by pursuing a career in government, Julia will be able to promote changes that will better protect the environment that we rely on and often take for granted.
Julia is working alongside Jack McCarthy, the director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. This is a great fit for Julia because she is interested in public school education and this organization works to build public schools across the state. It is important that all young children have access to an education. The MSBA has established green programs that emphasize reducing energy consumption in school buildings. Julia looks forward to finding more ways schools and other buildings in Massachusetts can become sustainable.