Game-changing gifts

By Rachel Farrell | Published August 2025

When donors support BU club sports, they don’t just allow students to play a sport they love. As Graeme Jackson (Questrom’27) explains in this interview, belonging to a club sports team—Men’s Water Polo—has helped him feel at home at BU, even while living 3,000 miles from the city where he grew up. He couldn’t be more appreciative of the BU alumni and friends who have made that possible.

Why did you choose BU?

A couple of reasons. Although I was born and raised in Los Angeles, my mom’s family is from Maine, and we spent our summers there and in Boston when I was growing up. So, even though I’m not a New England local, I feel a sense of community here. I absolutely love the Northeast.

My dad’s also a professor at BU; he’s been teaching screenwriting in the College of Communication since I was a sophomore in high school. I remember touring BU with him when I was starting my college search. That really opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities here. The Questrom School of Business was especially appealing because of its CORE courses, which allow you to build your own company for a semester. BU also has a great community, especially through the alumni network.

Have you used the alumni network yet?

Yes, it’s been huge. I’ve had about 50 coffee chats with BU alumni I’ve found through Questrom, water polo, and my fraternity. As a business-focused person, it’s been a great way to figure out what I want to do with my life and explore internships and post-grad opportunities.

How would you describe your BU experience so far?

It’s been amazing. The classes I’ve taken have been exactly what I hoped for. The best part about BU is you get out of it what you put into it. There are a million opportunities to join clubs or groups, and the more you get involved, the more you see how everything and everyone is connected. So, for example, I might find that a friend from club sports is friends with someone from the BU Consulting Group.

Why did you join the Men’s Water Polo team?

I’ve played water polo all my life. I thought about playing it at a varsity level in college, but I wanted to go to BU more than I wanted to do that. Luckily, at BU, I’ve found an ultra-competitive club sports team that really feels like a varsity team. We just won the New England Championship and went to Nationals, where we placed 4th in the country. It’s been an amazing experience—something I wasn’t really expecting when joining a club sport.

What’s the best part of being on the team?

Continuing to play the sport I love is the most important part for me. Water polo is something I want to do every day. Outside of that, being part of the team makes me feel like I have a community on campus. I can’t get to class without seeing at least one of my teammates and saying hi. So, even though BU is a huge university, I never feel like I’m a fish in the sea.

On this year’s Giving Day, Men’s Water Polo raised more than $3,000 from donors. What do those funds mean for the team?

They’ve had an unbelievable impact. Earlier this morning, we had our end-of-year meeting with our club sports advisor and reviewed our budget. I saw that it really would not be possible to have this team without the amazing donations from alumni. Their gifts pay for things like lifeguards and tournament costs, and they lower our dues, which makes the team accessible to everyone.

Do you know what you’d like to do after graduation?

I’d like to focus on finance or strategy. Investment banking is super appealing to me. But ultimately, I want to do something entrepreneurial. I’d like to start my own company one day.

Have your conversations with alumni helped narrow your career focus?

One hundred percent. They’ve helped me figure out what I should concentrate on and the classes I should take. I’m still deciding whether to pursue management consulting or investment banking, and thankfully I’ve been able to talk to alumni from both industries to get their advice. So that’s been huge.

Do you feel like BU is preparing you for those different paths?

Absolutely. Most of my classes are focused on real-life skills. My professors are always saying, “Have this down—not just for the exam, but because you’re going to use this every day if you go into this career.”

What would you like to say to the donors who have supported Men’s Water Polo?

Just a huge, huge thank you. Water polo has given me and my teammates the ability to have an amazing experience at BU. We appreciate it so much.

Anything else you’d like to add?

In April, more than 50 alumni came to the Austin Brashears’ Memorial Alumni Tournament that we hosted. We played water polo all day and then had a reception afterward to raise money for a BU scholarship in Austin’s name. It was just amazing to see that alumni are still so involved in BU—even five, 10, or 15 years after graduating.

1839 Society donors make a powerful impact on BU students—providing opportunities, resources, and support that change lives. Join the 1839 Society today with your gift of $1,000 or more, and choose to take a lead role in shaping BU’s future.

Editor’s note: Interview has been edited for length and clarity.