“I love diversity. I think it’s so cool to walk down the street and hear five different languages spoken!”
Although she’s from a relatively big city in Sasketchewan, Canada, Rachel Barker ’21 has found life in New York to be delightfully surprising.
“I love diversity. I think it’s so cool to walk down the street and hear five different languages spoken!” she says. “Going into the city is fun because there are so many things I couldn’t do or see anywhere else.”
It was softball that initially brought Barker to Monroe. A friend from Canada was on the team, and had “nothing but good things” to say about the school and the pride students took in the team. Barker has found her experience to be just as positive.
“I’m the youngest of six, so it’s different not being around family,” she says. “But the transition to Monroe was surprisingly easy, and both the faculty and staff are really helpful whenever I have a question. Even with the registration process, I always got a quick response to any questions I had, and it was comforting to know they were always there to help.”
Barker is studying business administration and hopes to graduate in 2021 with her associate degree. Workouts and practices for the team take up much of her spare time, even in the off-season, but she’s getting a lot out of her classes as well.
“I have a marketing class that’s an hour and a half, but it feels like 20 minutes because the professor and the material are so engaging,” she says.
