Rowan for Rowen
At the end of April, Rowen and I traveled back to NJ for a project we were doing with Rowan University. I had received an e-mail survey about being a transfer student. The questions essentially were focused around your average 21/22 year old college junior/senior. I couldn’t really answer any of them or felt like they fit. I reached back out to point out that not every college student has taken the traditional path. A lot of us fought like hell to get into and stay in college. Some of us didn’t get to live comfortably in a dorm and not have to worry about working to pay for classes or housing. Nothing against those who did, I just can’t relate to those people’s college experience. I’ve worked full time since I became a college student. All while being a FULL time college student most semesters. Or having to only take 3 classes because it’s all financial aid covered because of my EFC and my work schedule didn’t allow for more. I’ve lived on my own since 21 so I had rent and bills to pay. Some days I’d skip class to make extra money for bills just in case I had to give up a regular shift due to my work load and most days I’d be in class 4 days a week 8-3 PM then leave to go straight to my shift at the bar I worked at 4-12 AM. Then wake up to do it all again the next day. Lots of catastrophic life events have happened the last 7 years. BUT, that can happen with anyone. Life happens. As a lot of you already know, 2 years before I was set to graduate with my bachelors I found out I was 4 months pregnant. A HUGE life altering event. Rowan College at Burlington County and Rowan University did everything they could to help me stay in school instead of telling me to take a semester off or quit because it would just be too much. Now, May 19th, 2021, I graduate with an Associates in Liberal Arts and finish my senior year in the fall of 2021 at Rowan University. I get to walk across the stage for my first degree the day I turn 26. It’s a surreal feeling. I can’t wait for Rowen to be there. I have fall semester, spring semester and two summer classes to take before I FINALLY have a Bachelors in Psychology!
Thank you to RCBC and Rowan University for taking the time to feature our story on the Rowan Blog. I hope that featuring a student that is out of university norms helps normalize that many of us WANT to go to college, but it’s not as easy for some of us to get to the finish line. The resources, family support or financial means isn’t always there for everyone. Sometimes life changing events happen or mental health crisis hits. I dealt with both of those things throughout college multiple times. But I communicated to my professors my needs and had a disability plan to aid in my success. That’s something that needs to change across the board when it comes to college education. Support. Every student comes from a different walk of life and faces different challenges. Not everyone will agree, but post high school education should be a right just as public school is. Everyone deserves a chance to succeed and not be forced to stay at poverty level just because they couldn’t afford to go to college. Or didn’t know how.
Thanks to Rowan and an outside support system, I’m able to finally finish college and ensure I get a good paying job to help raise my son as a single mom.
A special thanks to Rachel, Ryan and Stephanie for a fun afternoon of filming and picture taking! I am PETRIFIED of public speaking and being on camera because of insecurities but they made me feel so comfortable during the whole project. And managed to produce some really great content. I’m going to cherish this project forever. This is just the beginning of us sharing our story.
To check out the project, follow the link below!
Blog Feature-