Class of 2026 Student Stories
In My Own Words:
The Long, Hard-Fought Journey to a Degree
Written by Rome Hardaway '26 CPS
Writing this today is humbling in a way words can barely capture.
My journey to a Villanova degree did not begin with privilege, perfect grades or a clear roadmap. It began in Southwest Philadelphia, in a family that was deeply impacted by substance abuse. Life was unpredictable and stability was not guaranteed. What was guaranteed, however, was love.
I was raised by my grandparents, two people who stepped in when life stepped out of order. They taught me strong values, firm spiritual principles, accountability and faith. They taught me that character matters more than circumstances, and that who you are becoming is more important than where you start.
Academically, I was just average. I graduated from University City High School with grades and an SAT score that wouldn’t get me into any college, let alone Villanova. If you had told me then that I would one day earn a degree from this university, I would have laughed and probably changed the subject.
In 2001, I met my father for the first time. That moment changed my life. Watching him and his wife build a household together while raising children and running a business showed me something I had never fully seen before: partnership, responsibility and purpose. It gave me a new picture of what adulthood could look like.
During the early 2000s, I worked for my father’s small business, which had clients in the Villanova area. Every time we drove past this campus, something pulled at me. There was an allure to it. It felt prestigious, intimidating, and honestly, far out of my league. Villanova felt like a dream meant for other people.
Then I heard about the division of Part-Time Studies, which had not yet grown into the College of Professional Studies. This was a program that allowed people to enroll even as non-matriculated students. One class at a time. One semester at a time.
So I tried.
I paid for one class per semester, slowly earning credits toward matriculation. The goal was 15 credits so I could qualify for financial aid. I made it to 12, and then I ran out of money. Completely.
With nothing left to give but hope, I wrote a personal letter to explain my story. I asked for help.
And then, a letter came back.
I was granted matriculated status and I was ecstatic.
That letter arrived at my grandparents’ home. My uncle who was living with us at the time saw it first. He was overjoyed. Soon after, my grandparents read it, and I’ll never forget the pride on their faces. That was 2004.
Then life happened.
I chased other accomplishments and dealt with real-life responsibilities. I needed a place to live. My first apartment. A car. Bills. Survival. Education went to the back burner and stayed on that back burner for twenty years.
In the summer of 2024, something inside me said, go back. Revisit the dream you never finished.
To my surprise, Villanova and the College of Professional Studies accepted college credits I had earned sporadically during those twenty years. Instantly, I was classified as a sophomore. I couldn’t believe it.
I re-enrolled and went towards my dream, full speed ahead. Every class and every professor I’ve worked with has been a blessing.
In the time I was away from Villanova, I became a husband and father of two. Recently I took my daughter to the campus and I looked around, feeling a rush of emotions. I remembered walking the campus without her, before I’d welcomed her or her brother into this world.
I’ve also spent the last 15 years working in the Chester Upland School District as the Director of Truancy and Attendance. Through my experience, I have been able to show my kids and the kids I work with every day – kids from underrepresented communities – that it is never too late. My experience teaches them that education is one of the rare things that can never be taken away and it is something that helps you build things that outlive your own life.
My message to them is this: Never give up on your dreams, no matter how young you are, no matter how old you are, and no matter how much time has passed.
As long as you have life, you have purpose. As long as you’re breathing, you have something to offer. And as long as you believe, you still have the power to change the world.
As I earn my degree, it feels like taking a victory lap, but I know that the journey has just begun. I’ve hit a milestone, but the work must continue. Despite that thirst for more, we can celebrate the pathway here.
Many of those who supported me on that pathway are no longer with us. My grandmom, grandpop, and Uncle Kevin, the group that celebrated with me in 2004 when I got that letter that I could continue my studies at Villanova, they are not here with me to celebrate this moment. But my wife, my children, and a wider family I’ve built over the years will be here to appreciate and honor this accomplishment. Then I’ll take a deep breath and know there is more to be done, to better myself and to be of service to others.