Henry S., CWS’21
When Henry Shifrin ’21 signed up for the Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS) at The Gunston School, he didn’t realize he was about to embark on an experience that would shape both his personal outlook and his career path.
“I can certainly say that the Chesapeake Watershed Semester was unlike anything I have done before,” says Shifrin, now a student at Northeastern University. “Visiting a small, watermen-based community like Smith Island, Maryland, or Wachapreague, Virginia, and learning about the environmental and economic challenges is a really great microcosm of what we see throughout the world. It really taught us how to go into those communities and figure out what issues they’re facing, and how we might be able to improve that.”
For someone who describes himself as “an indoorsy kid, very happy in my bedroom,” the program was a leap outside his comfort zone. Days once spent in traditional classrooms were replaced with marsh explorations, laboratory work, and community interviews. “To have my classroom physically be outside in the day was fantastic because it’s the first time that I had really had a deeper connection to nature than just going for a walk in my neighborhood,” he recalls. “To learn about the environment in which I’m living before I leave for college is really important to me.”
Through CWS, Shifrin camped on Smith Island, traveled the length of the Eastern Shore, examined samples at the VIMS Eastern Shore Lab, and even ventured to Washington, D.C., to explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Climate science and global awareness is something that’s really important, especially in the 21st century,” he says. “To have a deep connection to nature at a young age is something that I think you can’t really put a value on.”
That spirit of curiosity and engagement has carried over into his time at Northeastern, where he is pursuing a combined major in Journalism and Political Science, with plans to graduate in December 2025. His hands-on learning hasn’t stopped—he’s already completed two co-ops that reflect his interest in public communication and storytelling.
His first was in the Tours Department at the Massachusetts State House, guiding visitors and legislative staff through one of Boston’s most historic buildings. Currently, he serves as a Photography Co-op in the Governor’s Press Office, documenting official events for Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll for use in social media, press releases, and other public outreach.
While his career path is still taking shape, Shifrin knows it will combine politics, communication, and public service. “I’m still up in the air as to whether I want to continue working directly in politics or shift over to work for a news outlet,” he says. “I’d be just as thrilled working for the White House or for the legislature in D.C.”
From studying the Chesapeake Bay to capturing the pulse of Massachusetts politics, Shifrin’s journey has been fueled by a willingness to dive into new environments—whether that’s a marsh, a museum, or a state capitol. And it all started with a semester spent learning, exploring, and connecting in the watershed he once called home.
