Discovering Rowan University
As someone who desperately wanted to leave the state, it might seem like a shock to find me at a school less than an hour from home. Believe me, it was not my first choice. I wanted to go to school in Alaska, Ohio, New York, or Pennsylvania. However, my heart was pretty much set on me being in New York City, which was and still is, one of my favorite places in the world.
After touring Pace University, I was in love. I was ready to go that day, 16, a junior in high school, and I was ready to take on the big city by myself. However, reality soon hit, and it became clear that I would not be going to Pace University, or even leaving the state.
Coming from a family where my parents highest form of education is high school, money has always been tight. My father was in the navy for ten years, and suffers form PTSD, which is probably the biggest contributing factor to him being an alcoholic. My parents got divorced when I was eleven years old, leaving my three sisters and I with my mom. If that doesn't make it obvious enough, a four year university in NJ was something I was unsure would be able to happen financially.
Tons of tears later, I had to accept that I would have to attend an in-state college. This might seem selfish, that I would be upset about this, but after working so hard for all of high school, it felt like no matter how hard I tried, I would never get to accomplish what I wanted because financial problems. Regardless, Rowan University was constantly being talked about, one of my favorite teachers from high school went, and was going back, a few of my friends were going, everyone was talking about Rowan.
After a campus tour, I knew it was where I belonged. On Christmas Eve, of my senior year, I got my acceptance letter, ironically after a day spent in NYC.
