Today we speak with Kaitlee Francisco, a sophomore elementary education and mathematics major from Washington Township, Gloucester County, who lines on campus in the Townhouses. She will share her #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how she’s getting the most out of her college experience as a Rowan Prof.
Name: Kaitlee Francisco
Major: Elementary Education and Mathematics in the College of Education
Year: Sophomore
Hometown/County: Washington Township, Gloucester County
On-Campus Resident: Townhouses
Academic Clubs: Student Alumni Association (Rowan Proud Committee Chair), Leadership Rowan (Leadership Mentor)
Athletic Clubs: Rowan Unified Sports Club (Secretary)
Social Clubs: Delta Phi Epsilon – Beta Mu Chapter Sorority Sister
Do you work on campus: Yes, I work in the Chamberlain Student Center as an Information Desk Assistant!
Why did you choose your major? I chose elementary education for many reasons! For years I wanted to be a business major. I took an education class my senior year in high school and did field experience in a second grade classroom and fell in love with the idea of teaching! Growing up, my teachers always had a tremendous impact on my life. To me, teaching is the most intrinsically rewarding profession and I can’t wait to shape my students hearts! I want to be able to give back to students in the same way that so many of my teachers have done for me. I can’t see myself doing anything else in the future.
One reason why you chose Rowan? I chose Rowan because it was close to home and I loved the campus atmosphere when I visited here. I remember it just feeling right when I came here. My love for Rowan is something that has grown immensely overtime!
My Typical Day as a Rowan Student
My day-to-day life is very hectic but fun, different but the same, and usually filled with things that I enjoy doing! I would say that my week begins on Sundays! I usually will let myself sleep in until about 11 a.m. and then I’ll get up and take a shower. My hair routine is extremely important to me as silly as it sounds! I shower and then allot at least an hour and a half to blow dry my hair. For me, Sundays are the perfect day for a long hot shower to get my day started and I always feel more productive when I feel fresh and when my hair is done. Weird but just one of those ‘Kaitlee’ things!
Then, I will clean my room and then proceed to do homework. This usually consists of writing up a lesson plan of some sort, reading an article for my music class, or working on some practice math homework problems! Once I am done with my homework I will take some time to watch Netflix, probably Gossip Girl or Shameless. Sunday nights are always awesome because I have weekly chapter meetings with my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon. My Google calendar app is my favorite because it allows me to see what I have going on for the week hour by hour! Each night before I go to bed, I will check what I have for the next day. Once I look at my agenda for the week I will have a glass of water and head to bed.
Now Mondays are my longest days! I get up around 8 a.m. and get ready for work at the Student Center Information Desk! I’ll work from 9 a.m-11 a.m. greeting customers “good morning” and assist with any questions the Rowan community has in person or over the phone. At 11 a.m. I will stop at the Starbucks in the Student Center for an everything bagel with cream cheese. Since my days are so busy I enjoy eating by mys
elf on the 2nd floor of the student center because it allows me to catch up on social media, listen to music, and get some work done. I also always call my Dad at least once a day to catch up just to say good morning or to tell him what I have lined up for the day!
After work I’ll head home to townhouses and change out of my uniform then head to my 12:30 p.m. Calc II class and then right into my 2:00 p.m. double education class. By 4:45 p.m., I am pretty hungry once again so I will have a small snack, probably a Coke and a chocolate bar because the caffeine will keep me going. Then I will go on my phone and answer any messages I have in my club group chats. I have one for the Student Alumni Association, Unified Sports, my sorority, and work! I then have work again 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the information desk. I am also shadowing to be a building manager so I will shadow usually Monday nights 11 p.m.-1 a.m. This is extremely exciting because I am excited to move on the other position starting this summer.
My Mondays are long but my Tuesdays are better for me! I don’t have class until 2 p.m. on Tuesdays but I am a frequent flyer at the tutoring center and have found a consistent tutor to help me with my one class, Intro to Symbolic Logic. So Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. I’ll meet with my tutor to review some stuff! Once my tutor is finished, I will head to my sister’s office in Savitz to say hello and catch up with her. My brother also goes to Rowan so sometimes on Tuesdays he will treat me to lunch! Since I have a lot of time Tuesday mornings, this is when I will volunteer to sit at a table for either Delta Phi Epsilon or Leadership Rowan. I’ll table with my friends to raise money for a philanthropy event or to get the word out for an event. Once my 2 p.m. class is finished, I head to the Student Center to finish up homework for my 5 p.m. class. My 5 p.m. class is my favorite because it is my music class. I learn about how music affects children socially and emotionally and how music helps them grow! I also took this class with a bunch of sorority sisters so it is always a fun time shaking maracas together. Although I am busy, I will always try to fit in a nap whether it be 15 minutes or even an hour or so!
At nights, I am either at work or attending an event for the Student 
Alumni Association, Leadership Rowan, or Delta Phi Epsilon. Saturdays are always ‘Unified Saturdays’ I spend the majority of my day either out at the soccer field or at the Rec Center basketball courts with the special olympic athletes laughing and smiling and participating in some friendly but intense games.
No matter what I am doing on campus I am happy to have so many opportunities to do all the things I love and be surrounded by such awesome staff and peers. Through all the things I am involved in I am definitely #RowanProud. I am happy to be doing things in college so that when I look back when I am an adult I will have many memories to smile about!
Story organized and photography by:
Jen Green, senior public relations major
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