By Anna Catherman ('24)
Senior Rachel Wells took Transitions this Fall 2023 semester.
Wells came to Houghton from New York City, where she’d attended The King’s College for two years. When King’s shuddered due to financial woes, Houghton offered a generous teach out program, making it a clear choice. But it still wasn’t easy for Wells to start over in a new place for the second time in three years.
Wells grew up in suburban Florida—vastly different from both New York City and Houghton.
She didn’t tour King’s, and had only spent half a day in New York City before moving there.
Wells said that her new life “did not feel real for a very long time.”
Thrust into not only starting classes, Wells also had to learn how to grocery shop, cook, and make friends in a place where she knew no one. She contracted COVID-19 in her first month and had to spend time in isolation, which worsened her homesickness. But she pushed through, and in time, grew to enjoy living within walking distance of Battery Park and its views of the Statue of Liberty.
By her second year, Wells said she found she “actually love[d] living in the city.”
Highlights included her college professors, classmates, prayer group, babysitting, and studying at the city’s many coffee shops. She enjoyed King’s unique culture of debate and friendly competition, tutoring her housemates to win a writing contest. It was the only contest the House of Queen Elizabeth won in her time there.
However, the year was fraught with tension as King’s financial woes slowly became public.
Zoom calls with executives became routine. The interim president, Steven French, said that more money was needed to finish the semester. Students began getting rent notices for their college housing. Yet through May 2023, the school claimed no intention to close.
Then King’s announced no classes would be taught in the 2023-2024 school year.
Forced to transfer somewhere else, Wells “eventually came around to the idea of Houghton.” Many of Wells’ family members have attended Houghton University.
Wells misses the iced oat milk lattes at Olive’s, her favorite coffee shop; her babysitting job; and her former professors and classmates. But she’s found new people —and drink orders—at Houghton.
Wells really enjoys chapels. “Hot take, I guess?” she chuckled, acknowledging that many students don’t feel the same way.
And Wells has had a blast at Houghton’s events, including intramural water polo.
Wells hopes to return to New York City from time to time to visit friends, although she plans to move home to Florida after graduation. There, she wants to teach alongside her high school English teacher.
Ultimately? She’d like to be Dr. Wells.
She asks herself, “should you be saying that right now because you’re an undergraduate?” But she still dreams. ★