But the dancer’s life wasn’t all that I had dreamed it would be. After three years of trying to secure a dance job, I decided instead to go to college to find my next passion. I could have chosen any school in Westchester, but I picked Purchase for its artsy atmosphere. People are not afraid to express themselves, not afraid to be judged. Even though I no longer consider myself a dancer, I am an open-minded artistic individual and feel that Purchase represents that image to perfection.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Being a person who had been out of school for almost four years, I had a lot of trepidation about going to college. Purchase made that transition very comfortable for me. It took me a little over a year before declaring a major. After putting dance out of my life, I honestly had no backup plan. One of the first courses I took was Introduction to Psychology. I found the information intellectually stimulating. Another course that I had taken was Human Anatomy and Physiology. Despite the abundance of information taught, I was always fascinated with the functions of the body.
One day, somebody put it all together for me and suggested that I look into physical therapy. Something clicked in my head and it just made sense. I realized that I had a love for the human body—as a result of my passion for dancing. All those years I had been unknowingly passionate about the body and keeping it physically healthy. Since physical therapy is a grad school program here, I decided to declare a major in Psychology for my undergrad. Even though many people question why I would be majoring in Psychology and not biology, I believe that the mind and body are connected. The actions of the mind and body go hand-in-hand.

INTIMATE COMMUNITY

As a student at Purchase I feel as if I belong to a small community. The environment is very open. Students are personable, focused, and engaging. Within the Psychology department I have had wonderful experiences with faculty devoted to helping students succeed. I have been requested as a teacher’s assistant for many psychology courses, which I see as a great compliment. Purchase College also acknowledges its students through scholarships that I have been fortunate to receive for two years. As of now my career goal is to be accepted into a physical therapy master’s program, and I am able to take all of the required courses through Purchase’s School of Natural and Social Sciences.
Purchase, I feel, gave me the opportunity to re-identify myself, to change while still utilizing skills and talents from my past. For so long, I was known as a dancer and was always introduced as one by my friends. It’s nice to be able to change because I am now trying to become somebody else. Now I am the “aspiring physical therapist.”

ART IN THE AIR

Last week, when it was around 70 degrees, I remember walking out onto the courtyard area surrounding the library and bookstore after class and watching a dance class taking place outside. It was beautiful to see these dancers gracefully moving across the courtyard in groups. There were also people outside the Visual Arts building with their drawings and paintings capturing the effects of natural sunlight. And as I walked past the music building toward the parking lot, I could hear the sounds of instruments from the open windows. When the weather turns warm it is amazing how much the campus comes alive.