“You’re transferring in the middle of your junior year?! You
must be crazy!!!” This was a very common phrase I heard a lot once my decision
to transfer came out. With every new person who approached me saying this the
more I began to challenge my decision. The rush of emotions I felt every time
someone offered their opinions was unreal. The last few weeks at my old school
was filled with goodbyes and lots and lots of uncertainty. I had applied to a
few schools in New York and had gotten accepted, I wasn’t sure which school I
would call my home when I packed up my room in my old residence hall. I just
knew I would not be returning. Once I returned to New York the following weeks
would be filled with many campus tours and lots of email exchanges with a few phone
calls mixed in. I finally narrowed my options down to two schools. I was
completely torn between two amazing programs. After visiting both school three
times each I finally committed to Adelphi University. I was going to be a black
panther. The relief that flooded me was so overwhelming.
Fast forward to moving on to campus. Since I was
transferring to Adelphi for the beginning of the spring semester and since
Adelphi is located in New York wouldn’t ya know it was supposed to snow the day
I was scheduled to move in. Being that I live almost two hours away I called
Adelphi’s residence life and told them my story they were more than happy to
let me move in a few days earlier to beat the snow. From that moment on I knew
I had made the right decision. I committed to a school that was always going to
be in my corner helping me out and leaning a hand when I need support.
During my very first semester here I was placed into classes
that challenged my opinions, pushed me to work harder than I ever had for a
grade and was forced to step outside my comfort zone socially in more ways that
I can even count. I joined Student Activity Board (SAB) and started to meet new
people as well as helping to lean a hand on planning events around campus. My
sorority pushed me to meet more people than I ever imagined and encouraged me
to be a campus leader. After thriving in my major during this first semester I
was offered a place in the national honor society for biology majors Beta Beta
Beta (TriBeta). I also became an admissions ambassador during my first
semester. I was one of the few students who get to meet prospective students
and help them pick the most amazing university!
With all the support
I gained the very first semester I knew my senior year would be nothing short
of amazing. When fall 2016 came around I moved on to campus and participated in
Welcome Wagon which is a program where upperclassmen help the freshmen move
into their residence hall. How cool is that?! Your first semester you don’t
even have to lift a finger when it comes to carrying all the wonderful things
up to your room in your new home. The semester was off to a great start. What
made this semester even more amazing is I was given a space in an amazing
internship at Winthrop University Hospital. I was able to see many different
departments at the hospital and work with many different health care providers.
I had only been at Adelphi for one semester and barely knew my way around
Nassau County but somehow was placed in this competitive internship!
One of the
very many perks of going to a small school is how badly the professors want you
to be successful.
One of the very many things that stuck out to me about
Adelphi is how passionate the whole campus is about community service. I found
myself getting very busy with every opportunity I had to serve the community
around me. One of the very popular things Adelphi Students including myself
love to do is cook a meal for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House
on Long Island. Upon walking into the house my very first time I fell
completely in love with it and the work they do. I applied for an internship at
the house and received it! I spent my senior year as an intern at the Ronald
McDonald House! Without Adelphi’s love for community service I would have never
known about this amazing house and all it does for the families that stay
there.
With the support of
my professors and some amazing peers I begin the process to start a club on
campus! After gaining approval from the Center of Student Involvement the
Physician Assistant club was born! I became the Co-Leader and begin planning
events with the rest of the Executive Board. We hosted events where Physician
Assistants came and networked with students on campus, we held a fundraiser for
Rely for Life where we raised over $630 towards the American Cancer Society! We
hosted a few very successful Narcan trainings where we certified fellow peers
on how to administer Naloxone (a drug that reverses an opioid overdose).
During the winter
intersession I decided to keep busy! Due to an opportunity I had learned about
through the pre-professional advisor on campus, I found myself in Colorado for
two weeks. This two week intense program paired pre-medicine students from
around the country up with some of the finest doctors in Colorado, shadowing
opportunities in a level one trauma emergency room and even spend some time in
the Rocky Mountains to become a wilderness first responder.
Spring break was no different; I spent the week in Peru. I
learned about this opportunity through the pre-professional advisor on campus
as well. I volunteered with a medical mission trip. During this week I was able
to shadow in the operating room, draw blood from patients, and do community
outreach projects all related to the medical field.
Although I did not spend the typical four years on Adelphi’s
beautiful campus I can say that after just three short semesters I have left my
mark on campus and it has left a mark on my heart. I have grown as a leader and
prospered as a student. I was pushed to limits and surpassed any goals I had
for myself. As my days dwindle down (30 days left!) I can only imagine what the
next chapter holds for me. I began applying to Physician Assistant programs and
with my gap year I intend to travel. I accepted a fulltime job in China that
begins in September. Without the support I have received during these three
semesters I would not have been able to achieve all of these wonderful things.
Without the support of the pre professional office I would not have learned
about all the amazing things I chose to occupy my time with. With the support
of my peers I have changed those peers into some of my best friends, and I’m
even lucky enough to call some of them my sisters.
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