RCSJ Students Express Excitement for New School Year

The first week of the school year is a great opportunity for ambitious Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) students to start fresh, set new goals, reconnect with old friends, and connect with new ones. 

Students’ emotions, naturally, tend to range from anxiety to excitement as they embark on the next step in the journey of their lives. 

RCSJ’s mission is to provide its students with the tools they can use to become successful in the classroom, in the workforce, and in life. 

Several students from the Cumberland and Gloucester campuses eagerly shared what they have experienced during the first few days of the 2026 Fall Semester. 

Tatyana A., 19, Vineland, Sophomore Communications major, Cumberland campus: “I’m ready for a fresh start, something new. I’m excited to take the communications electives,” the Oakcrest High School graduate said. “I’ve had a great first day. I think everybody is pretty nice around here, so I’m excited to talk to more people and get to know the campus a little more.” 

Jordan B., 20, Swedesboro, Freshman Computer Graphic Arts major, Gloucester campus: “I am excited. I took a gap year,” the Kingsway Regional High School graduate said. “I was in cosmetology school for a while, but I ended up leaving because the school was way too far away, so I am excited. I decided to come to RCSJ because first of all it was convenient, and also because I actually think that going to a community college first is a really good opportunity [before going to] a university. 

“Two-year colleges are really good if you want to start out and see how you like going to college instead of just going to a four-year university. I think RCSJ is a really good opportunity for people [who] want opportunities to try to figure out what they want to do.”  

Zachary C., 18, Vineland, Freshman Arts and Sciences: Radio, Television & Film major, Cumberland campus: Zachary said his experience has been, “Pretty chill, calm. Pretty decent vibes. Meeting new people, meeting people once again, meeting teachers, meeting everyone.” The CCTEC graduate’s goal is “to do good and [make] my parents proud. It’s been a good start, so just keep going up from here.”

Roselynn F., Mullica Hill, Freshman Environmental Science major, Gloucester campus: “They’ve been really smooth, not stressful at all,” she said, when asked about her first two days on campus. “I was scared coming in but everything went fine. I met a couple of people. It’s really nice.” 

Roselynn’s goals are “to get good grades, be a better note taker and stay organized.” “All the professors are nice; it’s been easy to find my way around campus,” she said. “Everything’s been so smooth from the transition from high school to college.”

Raul H., 18, Vineland, Freshman Computer Graphic Arts major, Cumberland campus: “It’s been pretty relaxing, pretty nice. It’s a great environment,” the Vineland High School (VHS) graduate, said.  “I’m pretty excited for the rest of the year. It’s a very nice campus overall and the students here are great, too. I just met up with my friend Zachary.”

Raul, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from VHS said his academic goals are to “definitely keep my grades up, for sure, just how I did in high school. [I may] participate in extracurricular activities and just have a great time overall. It can definitely feel a bit different compared to high school, but it’s a new experience. It feels really great. It’s a new chapter, you know? I’m very excited about this new chapter.”

David M., 18, Vineland, Freshman Physical Therapy Assistant major, Cumberland campus: “It’s been pretty good. I just got out of my first class; it was general psychology. I never took a psychology course before, so I’m pretty excited about that,” he said. “It’s a new experience from [Vineland] High School. It’s definitely different but I’m ready for whatever is to come. I’m hoping to get good grades, possibly all A’s. I like the campus, it’s really nice.” 

Ayo O., 18, Sicklerville, Sophomore Nursing major, Gloucester campus: “This is my second day on campus. It’s nice, chill, laid back. People are friendly,” the Winslow Twp. graduate, said. Ayo, a power forward/center on the Roadrunners’ basketball team, revealed that his mind is on playing basketball and that his academic goal is “to get all A’s because I can’t really go anywhere without good grades.” 

Angel S., 19, Woolwich Twp., Freshman Chemistry major, Gloucester campus: “It’s been very fun. I love my teachers, especially my psychology teacher that me and Jordan [B.] just had class with. I’m just so excited to learn,” the Kingsway Regional High School graduate, said.  

“I graduated high school in June 2024. I haven’t been to school in two years and I’m just ready to learn. I’ve only been here two days but this school, this campus, this whole area and the people are just amazing, genuinely. They are just so nice. It’s just everything you could ever want from a school – and it’s a community college.”

For information about Rowan College of South Jersey programs, visit RCSJ.edu.