C.

Fuller Program Preparation Statement 1

It is true when they say that staying where you are comfortable does not help you grow.

At the start of my graduate school search, I was only interested in attending my undergraduate

institution. I knew the people in the programs and I felt comfortable. But there was always

something in the back of my head saying to take a risk. At the recommendation of my

supervisor, I looked over NYUs HESA program and instantly felt a connection. I loved being in

the city and the idea of holding an internship while completing my degree was exciting. When

comparing it to my undergraduate institutions program, there was no competition. NYU offered

the most beneficial experience and I just couldnt settle with being comfortable somewhere. I

knew that NYU would challenge me and put me in positions where I would learn new things and

be involved in numerous conversations. The program offered not only experience but

collaboration. I was ready for the challenge and applied to NYU. I was selected after interview

days to join HESAs cohort and I can easily say it was the best decision I could have made.

Through NYUs program I was offered an extremely unique opportunity to work at one

college while attending NYU. My graduate assistantship was at SUNY Maritime College, a

small comprehensive school in the Bronx. If NYU had an opposite, it would be Maritime

College. Through both my internship and classes, I was able to learn about two completely

different institutions at once. While in some of my classes with my cohort, it was interesting to

see how a large university, like NYU, works collaboratively with other offices. I would then

take those observations and compare it to my own experience at Maritime. It was interesting to

see how the environments on both campuses were different and how connections between

faculty and staff were made. As a young professional, I was overjoyed with being given the

opportunity to put my foot in the door with two completely different types of institutions. I feel

like I have gained valuable experience within the diverse structures of colleges in the U.S. It has
C. Fuller Program Preparation Statement 2

helped me to develop versatile skills in order to accomplish tasks and goals within the office I

work in and others.

The program itself sets you up with great professional opportunities but I have also

benefited from the curriculum. One of the classes that resonated with me and has helped shape

my potential professional path was called Community Colleges. As a student who came from

a traditional 4-year college, I was never educated on the development and purposes of

community colleges. Since my goal coming into the program was to step outside my comfort

zone, I knew taking this class would be incredibly educational and eye-opening. This class

completely changed my outlook on the community college. Often thinking they are the

institutions people put on the back-burner, I was able to learn how these colleges were preparing

student for success. Seeing how community colleges were vital tools in higher education

sparked my interest in getting involved with changes and revisions community colleges can

make in order to succeed even more. One of our assignments was to go visit a community

college for a day and talk with students and faculty to understand the missions of the school and

what students found appealing about a community college. It was inspiring to hear some of the

students aspirations and how starting at a community college gives them an opportunity to save

money and eventually transfer to a 4-year institution. Student success has always been important

to me and I learned that community colleges really put on emphasis on that. The class inspired

me to look into positions at community colleges for future career endeavors.

While education is important, NYU helped to put an emphasis on peer collaboration and

having opportunities to come together and learn from one another. Through HESAs cohort

design, I was instantly placed into a support system of individuals who were on the same path I

was. People who even shared the same aspirations and goals as I did. My time with my cohort
C. Fuller Program Preparation Statement 3

has made me realize that these are the people I will have connections with throughout my career

in higher education. When I needed advice, or was seeking learning opportunities, my cohort

were the first to send a response or offer to listen to what I was going through. Graduate school

is a crazy journey and to say I had a group of the most supportive classmates was an

understatement. The use of a cohort model placed me in opportunities to get involved in the

program, like joining ASAP and volunteering at NYUs Student Affairs Conference. It can

easily be said that if the cohort model did not exist, my experience would have been a lot

different and I would not have created the network I have today.

Most importantly, NYUs program has given me the chance to explore what is really

important to me within the field of higher education. As a Resident Director, I have been able to

explore my own definitions of diversity and social justice, and how I can apply those topics into

my future practices. NYU shined a huge light on diversity for me. I was presented topics and

vocabulary that I did not even know existed in higher education. This has helped me understand

how to be a better ally to students who face struggles in their lives. Working in housing puts you

in a position to ensure that students feel safe and welcomed in their home away from home, and I

want to always strive to make that better. I can better advise RAs on how to develop diversity

programs and events that foster community and acceptance. Moving forward in my career I

want to make education and acceptance of diversity a priority in my advising of RAs and student

leaders. This means going to more trainings and informational opportunities that shed light on

changing policies and resources that can be made available to students. My passion for diversity

and social justice have motivated me to become more aware and place myself in opportunities to

always learn more and bring that back to my office and students.