College is a new
experience for a lot of us. Leaving high school, saying goodbye to our loved
ones and adjusting to adulthood, it can be very difficult and comes with a lot
of responsibility. Throughout my college search process, I’ve gained attention
from many schools. I’ve been accepted to about 15 schools such as Towson
University, Shippensburg University, East Stroudsburg University and many
others. I’ve also been denied out of 3 schools as well, but overall, I was very
accomplished coming out of high school.
I committed to Robert
Morris University on March 23, 2019 as a Business Student. My first visit on
accepted students’ day I was very impressed. The opening speech was very appealing
by the President, I learned a lot more about my career interests in the career
fair and the hospitality was great. One thing that stood out to me the most
about that day was The Multicultural Student Services. I attended their session
before I left on the visit and it really opened my eyes. This event I met
students such as Melanie Hall and Jay Olu-Wehuje, two successful students at Robert
Morris. I also got a chance to meet Fred Hodges. Fred Hodges is the Head
Director of the Multicultural Student Services at Robert Morris. He is a great
example of a Leader, Mentor and a Big Brother. Throughout his session, he briefly
explained the multicultural services on campus, what they do and how it impacts
student of color on campus. The session really caught my attention and I was
glad to end my day on that note. After the visit was over, me and my family
went to the PNC Cafeteria for Lunch. We briefly discussed the day, but I
switched conversation midway through our meal to talk about college. I
explained to them how I narrowed down all my options and I felt Robert Morris
was the college for me. They agreed and I decided on the spot I was attending
Robert Morris University for school. Once people from back home heard the news,
and I posted it on my social media, everybody was very proud of me and wishing
me congratulations. I even caught people’s attention from the school already
and gained some recognition with followers on social media. It was a brand-new
experience for me, and I was very blessed to find a way out of Harrisburg.
Throughout the
rest of my senior year, I continued my Track & Field career by making The District
Championships and preparing for Graduation. Being at Districts was a great
experience due to missing the past couple of seasons due to missing marks, or
facing injury. I finally put my foot down senior year and started focusing more
on Track by doing a lot of work outside Susquehanna Township’s practice. Workouts
that included practicing with The Milton Hershey School where my Father went to
school and coaches at, and spent many hours at Roscoe Warner Stadium 2-3 hours
after mandatory practice to work on jumping technique. My season ended at
Districts where I missed the state mark by about 7 inches (44’5). It was very
unfortunate, but I’ve gained many memories and friendships from Track &
Field at Susquehanna Township and I couldn’t be any prouder of what I overcame.
The rest of the school year I attended Prom, Award Ceremonies and Graduated on
Honor Roll. Graduation was a very exciting, but hard time as well. Leaving all
the people you grew up with and many of us moving on it was a very emotional
time. But spending your last time with everybody and having all eyes on your
graduation night, I cherished the moment. I’m still friends with a few people
from my high school class, but I still keep everybody in prayers and wish nothing
but the best for them! Next stop Robert Morris University...
My semester at Robert
Morris University didn’t start off the way I wanted it too. I learned my friend,
Jonathan Fagan passed away the night before I moved in and I was devastated. I
played Basketball with him for years and had so many memories filled with
laughter with him in AAU Basketball off the court. It was a very hard time
dealing with moving into college, getting adjusted and a friend that passed
away. Overtime it was hard not thinking about that tragedy and being far from
home, it started taking a toll on my social life and schoolwork. Some days I
couldn’t stop thinking about things going on back home, and a lot of days I
just hung out in my room and balled up. I felt things were wrong making a bad
decision coming to Robert Morris, and putting myself in a different place where
I wasn’t going to do well in school, going to a school too far and building a
better life for myself. I told myself , “If I put myself in this situation, I
need to find myself out of it”. So, I decided it would be best to transfer out
of Robert Morris and find other options back in Eastern Pennsylvania (My Region,
Area, etc.) where I can continue my studies and be a lot closer. I felt this
was the best situation for me at the moment and things were going to fall in
place sometime soon. Tragedy then hit again soon early October where I have
gotten really depressed and angry and ended up smashing my phone. I wanted to
distance myself from the world because I felt really alone, but it ended up being
a bad decision and it cut off communication from my parents. I learned from my
mistakes and I started opening up to people about my struggles. I really
appreciate my family for hearing me out about my frustration, but also Fred Hodges
for taking me under his wing as a mentee and Nyla Betts for helping a Friend
out. Things got a little better after a while. Grades started improving and I began to work again as well. “Getting that money ya feel
me”. I started feeling like I had a purpose in the world again even though I
was in a bad situation.
My experience at
Robert Morris University wasn’t the greatest, but at times there were positives.
Playing Intramural Basketball, working at the UMPC Events Center for Basketball
Games, and nights out with Friends have been great memories I’ll carry forever. I would like to people such as Steffon Chambers,
Tayvel Hutchinson, Elia Kandack-Ngako, Antoine Mosley, Kiyah Palmer, Sydney Smith and a few others that have left a positive impact on me. Personally, my favorite class from that school
was the Class of 2022. I got along with many of them at school and shoutout
Caleb Black for being a loyal Temporary Clothing Line Customer. Get your shirt
today! Anyways lol I appreciate Brooke Bushmire and Sean Johnson as well for
helping me get through Psychology in the semester because I don’t know how that
class would’ve gone if I never reached out. I also appreciate the tutoring
services for helping me out in Macroeconomics. Macro is the hardest subject I’ve
ever encountered, and I can’t thank them enough for helping me. I also want to shoutout
my roommate, Zachary Cook for being a great example and supporting friend to me
these past couple months. We’re two different people who come from two different
worlds, but managed to get to know each other and have made the best out of
being roommates. I would also like to thank Ellen Hutchins (RMU) , Jocelyn Guy (RMU), Justin Brown (West Chester University), Albert Jones(Family Friend) and many others for contributing to my education these last couple of months through their guidance. Last, I’d like to thank
Fred Hodges for everything he’s done. He’s one of the main reasons I came to Robert
Morris. His presence and motivating speeches have really enlightened me over-time
and have built me up as a person. He does a great job of running the
multicultural student services, but he can’t do all the work to keep African American
students on campus and I feel he doesn’t get enough credit for it. A lot of Black
students and other minorities have left this campus due to the school not
having enough culture, and as people of color we face a lot of negative
encounters as well being in a Predominately White Institution (PWI). I’ve
talked to many former students from RMU who transferred out and they told me
certain reasons why they left, and I took their word for it. I just couldn’t
see myself graduating from Robert Morris and being stuck here for four years. I
noticed the signs early and I needed a way out before things got bad. I realized
at Robert Morris they want you to be the “perfect student” and as a person I
feel not everybody’s perfect. I have many beliefs and follow my teachings, so
the decision was a personal matter as well.
In conclusion, I
will be attending Harrisburg Area Community College for the Spring Semester. This
was the best decision for me moving forward. It gives me more time to decide on
what I want to do with my life, and I get to work part time again. I hate being
broke and in school, so I feel this is the best plan. I’m hoping to get back
into Basketball very soon after taking time off it to try new experiences. This
will give me time to decide on my next school, training and to get back into
basketball shape. I have also submitted applications for Fall 2020 to become a
regular student again at schools like West Chester University, Kutztown
University and Millersville University if that option holds again to become a
regular student. I trust the man above that 2020 will be my rebuilding year as
an adult and for nothing but good vibes moving forward. I’ve realized you don’t
have to go far away, or be at a standout school to accomplish great things. You can
be close enough from your doorstep and still get a degree, or work a good paying
job. College isn’t for everybody and I’ve realized it can be a scam, but the
degree is worth it. I want to thank everybody for this eye-opening year good
parts and bad parts, but it’s time to cut off distractions and move forward.
Have a great rest of the semester and happy new year!
Comments
Post a Comment