I came to the College [Community College of Philadelphia] after I completed homeschooling. Financially it was a good start for me, it was feasible for me and I needed the resources for something that was going to help get me into a really good college eventually. I saw this as a boosting pad for me. Coming from homeschool and having a different type of skillset than the traditional high school student, I wanted to come here, and build up to go to a school like UPenn or Temple—somewhere I can continue to cultivate.

So ultimately, I hope I can get my master’s degree in Linguistics or International Relations. While I’m here on campus, I like to engage as much as I can because I did homeschooling and I was isolated enough as far as engagement. It is like a family here, and the faculty are very kind. This initiative [People of the College] really helps bring out the best in people’s character, and helps them connect with others. Ultimately, I feel really positive and I really appreciate just being here and having an affordable chance.