Wendell Jean-Joseph, 25, a Rutgers-Newark senior from Rahway, NJ, going to school in Newark is a very good way to learn about other cultures.
For Jean-Joseph, an accounting major, moving from Haiti to America meant adapting to a totally new environment and school curriculum. He describes Newark as a faster paced environment. “It’s like a mini version of New York,” he says.
“After graduating high school in Haiti I moved to America to be with the rest of my family. I also wanted to work and attend school in America where better opportunities are,” says Jean-Joseph.
“America has many great opportunities to take advantage of, whether it is Newark or any other city. People from everywhere come here to take advantage of the education and job opportunities in America. Newark has good schools and companies that attract students and clients.”
“Coming to such a diverse campus is a very good experience,” he says. “I have learned a lot about different cultures, I hear stories like the good and bad things about other countries. Books only teach you academics. Hearing people talk, meeting new people, and learning about their background is really interesting and makes this experience on this campus worthwhile.”
Jean-Joseph transferred to Rutgers in spring 2005 from Union County College. His interest in attending Rutgers-Newark started with some of his friends from Union County College, where they heard that Rutgers is a good school. Attending school in Newark also works out for him because Newark is convenient to his home in Rahway, NJ.
“I had never really been to Newark until I had to visit the school and the area after I had gotten accepted. Even though it was known as one of the New Jersey cities with the highest crime rates, it still didn’t change my desire to go to Rutgers.”
Nevertheless, Jean-Joseph feels that he hasn’t absorbed the full experience of Newark. As a commuter he is just “in and out of school,” as he describes it. “I just drive right through the city. I’ve been to a couple of food places right by the campus and they’re always busy, probably because of the area.”
Attending Rutgers-Newark means a great deal to Jean-Joseph. “Rutgers ranks as the best business school. I have always wanted to attend this university after I moved to America.”
Lanette Espy is journalism major at Rutgers-Newark. Her report is one of in an occasional series about the impact of Newark on the education of Rutgers-Newark students. Posted April 2008.
