HawkTalk
Christian Grotewold On campus

A New Home

I have been away from my home country, Guatemala, for almost two years now. Despite the fact that I do fly during winter break and summer break back to Guatemala, I have to say that all I can think of is of getting back to Wagner College. Do not get me wrong, I love my family and being with them means everything to me, especially if I spend months away from them. But, we all have to grow up one day and follow our dreams, even if it means leaving the bird nest.

Friends forever.
Friends forever.

I have been coming to New York since I was six months old, so the Big Apple is no stranger to me. I grew up in a family that is heavily involved in the fashion industry back in Guatemala, and we all enjoy the music hits of the time. So every time I came to New York, those roots were enriched. By the time I was a junior in high school I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up and I knew just where to fulfill this dream: New York.

My wall of Wagner memories.
My wall of Wagner memories.

The path has not been easy. There is a lot of hard work and some heartache on the way, but the Wagner community has helped me with all of it. Let's begin with the warm hearts I was welcomed with to Wagner. Being an international student is not easy, but the students here are all very welcoming. I left behind everyone I knew back in Guatemala, all my family and friends, a clean slate. At Wagner I found the friends who I know will stay in my life forever — I found a group of people who share the same passions I do. I found my fit. Not only do I have a group of friends who I love and I know love me back, but the brotherhood at Theta Chi is extraordinary. I know I can count on my fraternity always. At Wagner, you do not have to be worried if you do not have someone to sit with for lunch; there will always be someone who will smile at you and sit with you.

At Wagner your talents are well recognized but it is up to you to take advantage of the opportunities. My first year I was not able to work on campus because I was still getting to know everyone and the system, but now I have two jobs on campus that I absolutely love. I am able to use my abilities and my creativity on both jobs. And speaking of abilities and creativity, this semester I get yet another shot at continuing to build my dream record label. It all began with my first semester at Wagner, and I am only half way through my studies at Wagner. Who knows, maybe in the next half of my college life I will have a concrete record label on paper ready to be opened.

My new home.
My new home.

Other students may be eager to go home during the breaks but for me it is the opposite — during breaks I am eager to come back. At Wagner I have begun to build the life I want to have. I have the best friends I could ever ask for, I have a brotherhood that will always have my back, jobs that encourage me to use my abilities, and classes that help me build my dream career.

Wagner College is my new home.