This is the 100th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni.
“I was naturally drawn to human interest pieces because I like learning about people’s unique walks of life,” Caroline Pecore ’23 said. Pecore founded Bears Doing Big Things, the M-A Chronicle’s weekly column featuring alumni, in 2022.
For the 100th profile, the M-A Chronicle spoke with the founder about the origin of the column. Bears Doing Big Things is an important part of the M-A Chronicle and a lasting tribute to the accomplishments of M-A alumni.
Pecore joined Journalism her senior year at M-A and immediately dove into writing feature stories. “I was originally only going to write one alumni feature,” she said. “I emailed a lot of people asking for interviews only expecting a few to respond, but, surprisingly, everyone did, so I decided to do all the interviews.”
“I wrote them all up and realized it was way too big to be one story, so we broke it up into multiple. The column started going for about 10 weeks, and as I found more and more people, I just kept it going,” Pecore explained.
When Pecore began writing Bears Doing Big Things articles, she didn’t anticipate the column would continue for years. “I never really thought that far ahead, and I kind of just kept going each week. It’s really cool that it has continued for multiple years,” she said.
“It was really inspiring meeting new people and learning about different perspectives on life,” Pecore added. “I learned a lot about how to interview people, ask good questions, and listen effectively. I think a lot of people really need to be heard, so when you are present and listen, they share a lot of interesting things.”
Pecore aimed to spotlight people of different backgrounds and stories. “In our area I think there can sometimes be a very narrow definition of what success means, so I wanted to push back on that and show that there are a million different ways to live a meaningful, exciting, and fulfilling life,” she added. “There’s no single right path.”
She also noted the unique challenges that come with writing features. “It’s really hard to capture someone’s life in a few pages, so I was constantly worried about missing some parts of their story or misinterpreting what someone said,” Pecore said.
“There is a big responsibility and trust involved in these stories because people give you so much information about their life, and you have to figure out how to structure it in a way that portrays them accurately,” Pecore added.
Pecore currently attends Yale University, where she majors in Humanities and Applied Mathematics. “I was inspired by the whole English department at M-A, and I’ve always loved writing. I was lucky enough to find this interdisciplinary path at my school where I can have a balance between subjects and pursue various interests,” she said. “I have written a few articles for the paper at Yale, but I hope to get more involved in the program next year.”
Looking ahead, Pecore hopes to carry her passion for learning and human connection into the next chapter of her life. “I want to continue learning, continue loving school, and maintain my enthusiasm for life,” she said. “I am interested in teaching, writing, and whatever I do, continuing to connect with people in a meaningful way.”
Pecore’s advice to current M-A students: “Everyone has a story. Everyone’s voice matters. Everyone is important, and there is something new to learn from every person you meet. At school, go out of your way to connect with people outside your usual group. Be welcoming, be kind, listen to other people, express appreciation and support. Even the smallest actions can mean more than you realize.”
