I received my GED and entered HCC with a special placement exam. HCC was my ticket back into formal education. I had a solid beginning at the Dale Mabry Campus and then fulfilled my passion for the arts in the Ybor campus, which I fell in love with it at first sight. As an artist, I loved the spacious and dynamic facilities, the knowledgeable and experienced professors, the curriculum and the resources. I enjoyed every minute. Of course, you have to have an open mind, like taking a History of Music at 8:00 a.m. in the morning (some of my classmates would fall asleep, but I found it relaxing and enlightening), and take part in all the events (loved the cultural and international shows and events at the campus).
I started to dance because I had terrible back pain, and I ended up falling in love with it. Dance is now my therapy, both physically and emotionally as I still take classes and can completely forget about everything when I'm in class, and instead feel exhilarated and happy. It helps me stay in shape as well as maintain my energy and health. I believe dance can be very challenging, but, in the end, quite rewarding and fulfilling.
At HCC, I had the opportunity to meet with dance companies and listen to them and their stories. We worked with a variety of visiting or guest artists who gave us great insight into their journeys as artists. All of these were instrumental at showing me how to pave the way in this field. I also worked with many HCC professors and artists who served as examples of great leaders who I watched devote hard work, innovation, sensibility, brilliance, creativity, consistency, discipline and focus to their craft and career. This gave me a very clear standard of the kind of educator or professional I aspire to be every day.
I learned some great life lessons while at HCC and met inspirational people who believed in me and pushed me on, even when I was scared to do things myself. I learned that it takes a hell of a lot of work and dedication to get to where we wish to be, but it’s not impossible no matter how far it seems, and that we can expect to find caring and kind people along the way, while also being kind and sensible to others on our own way.
Rose graduated in 2016 with her B.A., and is an ESL teacher (English as a second language educator at secondary levels: 7th-12th grades) in Puerto Rico where she also runs a theater company with her husband. Her former dance instructor, Christina Acosta states “I think everyone on the Ybor Campus has a Rose story. She is such an amazing person and always jumped into any opportunity the college offered.