Today we speak with Rasheed McCord, a retired veteran and adult learner from Mount Laurel, NJ (Burlington County), about his Rowan experience. Rasheed is wrapping up his last semester of undergraduate studies as a Psychology major at Rowan and is preparing to earn a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling.
When did you start at Rowan?
I became a full-time student at Rowan in 2015, after transferring from Rowan College at Burlington County.
Why did you choose Rowan?
At first I was going to Rowan College at Burlington County as a business major. I had an interest in owning my own business. I found that business can be very impersonal and I like being personal with people. One of the requirements for my degree was to take a psychology or sociology class, and when I took a psychology class it was the opener for me. I thought, ‘This is what I need to study.’ It was a no brainer for me. It gave me a way to help people and be fulfilled.
People in my life kept telling me I would be a good counselor or therapist or psychologist. People have always come to me with their problems and asked for advice. It wasn’t just my friends, but professionals in the field, who were telling me I had the right mindset for the psychology field. It was a sign for me. The more I learned, the more passionate I became. At first I was just going for my bachelor’s, but I realized I needed a master’s degree in order to help people more.
Has Rowan been accommodating to you as an adult learner and veteran? How so?
I can’t say enough about the faculty and the staff at Rowan. They really encouraged me all the way through this process. They all took time with me to let me know that I could do this. The staff at Rowan have been there for me professionally since day one. The Veterans Affairs [Military Services] office encouraged me [to pursue] this program and helped sponsor me for my master’s degree.
I haven’t had a professor that doesn’t love what they are doing. They all take a deep interest in their field. That’s something that aspiring students can look forward to at Rowan — knowing that they have a supportive, caring staff. That was a big driver for me to continue my education.
You are working toward receiving your clinical counseling master’s degree. What has that process been like so far?
I chose Rowan for my master’s because I already know what it’s like to be a student here, and I’ve had a great experience so far. Why would I want to go somewhere else, where I could stay somewhere I know I am cared for?
What are your goals for your degree? How has Rowan prepared you to achieve them?
I intend to become a licensed therapist or psychologist and work with veterans that may suffer from PTSD or depression. Or, I would like to work at a hospital facility where I would be counseling others who need my help.
Any parting advice for Rowan students, specifically adult learners or those who are considering going back to school?
Don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t feel like because you’re an adult learner that you have to play catch-up. Be a constant learner, so it doesn’t matter what age you are. As long as you have your goals in mind, you’ll be successful. Being around some of the younger students gave me perspective on how they view the world, and it was good to see. I was able to share my experience with them, and it was a good exchange that we could both learn from.
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Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
How did you meet new people and stay involved on campus as a commuter? 
My name is Maria Rosalba Trejo-Mendiola. I was born in Querétaro, Mexico. I moved to the United States at the age of 11. At an early age, I discovered my biggest passion in life was helping others. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to work with people. Of all the possible careers that I could have pursued, I fell in love with the one profession that makes all other professions possible: teaching. I attended Cumberland County College, now known as Rowan College of South Jersey, where I completed my associate degree in Liberal Arts. I then transferred to Rowan University where I completed my bachelor’s in Spanish. Then, I started working as a Career Placement Developer for Pathstone, a non-profit organization.
Based on a suggestion from her high school art teacher and mentor, Jessica is working toward a career as an art therapist at a nearby hospital or cancer center. “[Art therapy is] really important for me to pursue. My sister had cancer, so it’s something that definitely hits home for me. And the possibility of working with little kids or anyone on the spectrum is something that’s so rewarding for everyone,” she says. “Art doesn’t have to be perfect; it doesn’t have to come out like you expected it to. Just the act of physically [making art] is so much more impactful than people might realize.”
Meet Natalia Panfilova, a 2017 graduate from the 
Commuter
These are just three ways how I have gotten involved here at Rowan, but there are so many other ways to get involved.
ing through Twitter, like most students, waiting for class to start. I saw a post from Rowan University about the transfer deadline and cruised to the main website. I found a big transfer button and thought, “Why not give it a shot?” Rowan was the only school I applied to transfer to, so this was all or nothing for me.
Engagement
What’s your favorite thing about Rowan?
With a few days left until the application deadline, I decided to apply to Rowan. I remembered touring it with my brother a few years prior and enjoying how it was a small and quaint school. Most people think applying as a transfer can be confusing, and it can be. However, Rowan’s process made applying simple and painless. I even received my acceptance letter a just few days later.
Before I knew it, I was all moved in. I cried as I didn’t want my family to leave because I was still scared to start this new chapter. But within a few days my worries subsided, and I found myself getting into the swing of my routine. I was starting classes, working on Rowan’s social media team and joining clubs, such as 
Name:
Every year entering students (freshmen and transfers) who have registered for the program arrive early on-campus for the Fall semester and participate in group activities run by Rowan’s staff members and upper-class student leaders.
This year there were four student leaders and they all had to work together in planning different types of activities for the participants to do during their free time. “We put together a scavenger hunt and some games,” she said.
Being a student leader has taught Rose to work along with other fellow leaders, bounce off ideas from one another and how to make plans in a group where everyone agrees.
Group opened the door of opportunity for Transfer Post to become more known and get their name out there with other popular local bands. Here’s a story of how a talented self-taught musician, was provided with every opportunity and made his aspirations a reality.
Around the time she discovered the article, Jo was part of a class called New Ventures Development, where students expand on an idea for a potential startup business or product, and experience the process of bringing it to life. “In that class, I came up with the concept of a personal filtration system within a water bottle, called RefresH2O,” Jo says. “Wherever you are – hiking, spending time outdoors – you can scoop up water from a nearby body of water, and it will be filtered fresh. This will alleviate our plastic usage, and make us wiser about how we source our water.” Another class, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, helped Jo finalize the marketing plan and details for her product, including the target market and purpose. “I wanted to make a product that even a three year old could use. Everyone needs clean water — it’s a human right, but not everyone is lucky enough to have that,” she explains.
Her future plans include owning her own environmentally sustainable holdings or manufacturing company, and possibly even attending graduate school for a degree in engineering management, to continue to grow. She advises freshmen coming into the field to not let the idea of ‘perfection’ interfere with your goals. “‘Good’ is good enough; just get your name and idea out in the world and continue to work on your idea as you progress,” she says. “And keep track of your commitments! Juggling school work, being on the track team and my internship, senior year has been the most challenging year yet, but planning it all out and prioritizing made it a lot better.”
