Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem on Campus

Scenery behind 1600 valley Road, William Paterson University building
Photo credit- Beatrice Amune

In the fall semester of 2020, being a transfer student and attending William Paterson University for the first time, I struggled with a lot of things as an international student with a different educational setting back home. The COVID-19 situation made it even harder to adjust to the school environment here as classes were hybrid and my hopes of being able to interact with other students who could help and point me in the right direction were constricted as everyone was being extra careful.

Since I often commuted to school, I’d usually like to take advantage of being on campus whenever I had class and would stay back to read and complete assignments but sometimes that was difficult as the library, try as it may, could not fulfill my three in one needs of studying, having a quiet time and enjoying a mini adventure all at once.

So I embarked on a special mission to find that unique spot now referred to as the “hidden gem” where I could do all three things while on campus.

"Marketing Principles" was a course I had to take at 1600 valley road and I’d stay back in class after we were done but little did I know my long-sought special spot was right behind the building.

On this fateful day in September 2020, I decided to look around before leaving, and to my utter amazement, I stumbled on this view right behind the building. The pond and green scenery became my mini-adventure when I got tired of reading, the table and chair were my companion in studying and doing assignments, and lastly the quiet environment was my place of peace and calm.