Alumna returns to ‘second home’ to find well-being

Tyler McNeil
Managing Editor

Cydney Rogers returned to Hudson Valley after struggling at SUNY Oneonta to rediscover happiness close to home. “It’s a lot easier to be confident when you’re happy,” she said.

Graduating Hudson Valley last year, Rogers was optimistic about leaving the Capital Region for SUNY Oneonta. After living on the campus for several weeks, her perception about living an hour away from home changed.

Last semester, Rogers struggled to socialize. “I was living by myself basically,” she said. During her time at SUNY Oneonta, Rogers said her roommate refused to speak to her.

After finding employment in the area, Rogers had an increasingly difficult time finding friends and getting involved in campus clubs. Over time, Rogers had panic attacks over time constraints and lack of support.

She would often use any available time to travel back home to Troy to visit her boyfriend, family and friends from Hudson Valley. “We’re all just a really tight knit group,” said Rogers about her friends from Hudson Valley that she met through the HonorScholar program.

Next semester, Rogers plans to stay closer to home by attending either Russell Sage or UAlbany. “Hudson Valley is like a second home to me so I’m hoping that another school that is local will do the same thing,” said Rogers.

Graduating Catholic High School in 2013 with honors, Hudson Valley was Rogers’ first choice. Coming into the HonorScholar program at the college, Rogers found new friends and a passion for psychology. “I found my niche at Hudson Valley. I didn’t really have a niche in high school,” she said.

Unlike her experience at Hudson Valley, Rogers struggled to find acceptance at Catholic High School. “It was all very superficial there and I was just very focused on my values,” said Rogers. By her senior year, Rogers failed to find any friends that have remained despite being involved in over five campus clubs at once.

Roger’s high school experience consisted of harassment, anxiety and growing health issues. Starting in her freshman year, Rogers would often struggle with nausea and vomit regularly. “I was just vomiting all the time,” said Rogers.

During a colonoscopy in 2013, her pediatrician discovered a large diaphragmatic hernia, allowing gastric acid in her esophagus to flow freely. Rogers faced a six-month recovery period after undergoing surgery in March of that year.

While hernia complications progressively worsened, Rogers faced difficulties exercising. “I couldn’t even do crunches without vomiting,” said Rogers. She had to give up stress-relieving outlets such as karate, yoga and running.

Next month, Rogers hopes to revive her athleticism. “My biggest thing isn’t that yoga solves a lot of problems, but physical activity does and I’ve been held back from that due to time constraints with work and school,” said Rogers.

Along with physical activity, Rogers has used religion to cope with stress. In recent years, she said her Christian beliefs have grown stronger. “If you’re not fulfilled than you’re not reaching the potential that God planned for you to be,” she said.

Since birth, Rogers has attended the same church. She spends holidays with some church members that she refers to as family. “The church was always positive for me,” she said.

She described her core beliefs surrounding the phrase “God is love and God is kindness.” “I try to live with kindness and joy and I try to spread that as much as I can,” said Rogers.