My name is Matthew Andrew Vega and I am currently enrolled at Rider University as Freshman. I am in the College of Business with double majors consisting of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management and Leadership. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in a small town in New Jersey, alongside the Hudson River called West New York. I recently graduated from Memorial High School with a 3.89 Grade Point Average and with high Honors. I was an active student by joining many different clubs and organizations such as Key Club, Photography Club, Spanish Club, Chess Club, Varsity Football and Basketball. I have also been in some academic organizations such as Achievers in Memorial (A.I.M). A.I.M is an organization that is combined with Ramapo College and to be it in you have to be nominated by two academic educators to become inducted. Besides school, I also prevailed outside of the classroom by getting countless amounts of awards and certificates for my poetic writing abilities and my performance on the gridiron and on the hardwood. I have found sports and poetry to be my escape, while doing these activities I feel free from the world. Another thing that allows me to escape is volunteering; volunteering makes me feel good because I love the feeling of helping others. In high school, I participated in volunteering projects such as The Arc of New Jersey, March of Dimes, Community Food Drive, and other events with the Key Club.
During my first semester at Rider University, I have continued to be a very active student; I am affiliated with programs and organizations such as the Educational Opportunity Program, Multicultural Student Leadership Institute, Voice of Planned Parenthood, On Fire!!On Fire!!Literary Journal, Black Student Union, Emerging Leaders Program, and Latin American Student Organization. Along with being active in many organizations I have also participated in volunteering such as Habitat for Humanity, Educational Opportunity Program Car-Wash, AIDS Walk, and Mercer Street Friends. I love the feeling, knowing I made a difference in someone’s life. Although this is my first semester and I have done a great amount of community service in such a short amount of time, I would love to continue to assist the ones in need.
