Rollins College, my dream school and a school loved by many others, has a side that most are not aware of- a side that gives people an opportunity to receive an education that might not have been available otherwise. This is all thanks to the Hamilton Holt school of Rollins College. The night school at Rollins gives people of all ages the chance to receive an affordable degree.
From fresh high school graduates to fifty year old professionals going back to school, the Holt school caters to all. This also gives another educational opportunity to a wide variety of international students. The Holt school not only offers options for those to attend, it also allows students to become involved in every aspect of Rollins life. The only constraint is students are not permitted to live on campus. But honestly, I’m not complaining- I don’t have to share a bathroom…
So, why become a Holt student? For someone like me, it checks all the boxes as far as maximizing my time at college. The time of classes allows for full time work. This allows for those saving for the future, those with financial concerns, and those that are already professionals to continue to earn an income. This also allows those who might not be able to afford over $70,000 a year an opportunity to earn a diploma from a well known, highly accredited school while avoiding mass amounts of debt.
Another reason is the peers that you will encounter. I know a lot of the students fresh out of high school might not be very excited to have class with a 40 year old, but it has many benefits. These experienced adults have had extensive time in the professional world and have either owned their own businesses or worked in various business settings. This experience is transferred to the classroom and gives young adults a whole new world of knowledge, straight from the source. These characteristics combined make Holt a great choice for an education.
With every opportunity there are its downsides. The Holt school is a completely different culture when compared to life in the CLA day school. For one, we are not constantly surrounded by our peers. Meeting people and developing strong relationships is difficult. Covid-19 definitely affected this, with online classes and limited options for interaction. Holt students however, grapple with the social aspect due to a multitude of reasons unrelated to the pandemic.
Orientation at the beginning of freshman year is imperative in developing your first friends in the collegiate environment. Orientation and the two weeks that follow are said to be the time when everyone settles down and finds their friend groups. Holt has a three hour orientation with a short tour of campus, then a short seminar to answer frequently asked questions. This does not provide ample time or opportunity for meeting people. When class only meets once or twice a week and the time you see your peers is limited due to not living on campus, creating valuable relationships is difficult. While it is definitely possible to make friends, being a Holt Student brings more of a challenge.
After examining a basic overview of the Hamilton Holt school, I would still like to say, regardless of the ups and downs, that Rollins has provided a way for those who might have never gotten the opportunity for such an amazing education, a chance to earn one. The journey might be difficult or might seem lonely at times, but sticking it out and realizing the amazing environment, campus, and people that the Holt school has made available, is undoubtedly worth it.
Life is like weather- there are rainy seasons that come and go but when sunny days arrive, the rain and gloom is forgotten. The Holt school has given myself and many more the opportunity to strive to keep the sunny days in sight and work hard for the education that is presented to us.
My advice to you, whether you are a CLA day student or a Holt night student, is to take the time to not only appreciate the beautiful school around you, but also recognize the people that you may not have noticed before.