By Rou Zhang

Kevin Piana, 21, walked through Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park in Mission Hill. It was a Saturday afternoon, and he was heading home after spending the night at a friend’s house.

Piana is a mechanical engineering student currently studying at Northeastern University. He just moved to Mission Hill, where he shares an apartment with four roommates.

Asked about the best part of living in Mission Hill, Piana said, “It’s a lot of young people here. You are with your friends. You are off campus and just having a good time.”

As a new resident, Piana has few complaints about the neighborhood. But he thinks the biggest challenge this neighborhood is facing right now could be traffic. He said it’s always congested when he’s on his way to school.

Piana’s most vivid memory in Mission Hill so far was the night he moved in. He invited friends over to have drinks on the roof deck at his new apartment. When asked about what gives him hope about the future, Piana said being surrounded by friendship.  

In the future, Piana wants to work as an engineer, developing renewable energy, or to be in the music industry. Piana is a musician too. While working as an engineer, he hopes to continue pursuing his music dreams.

“It can be hard to seek a balance,” he said, noting that music is his greatest true passion.

Piana uses his spare time to record music. He recently released an album on Spotify under the pseudonym Beach Garden, which he describes as a “psychedelic bedroom project.” Piana said it’s his best work yet.

About this project 

The Scope’s student journalists spoke with community members in Mission Hill. #MissionHill100 is a collection of their stories.