Discovering New Rhythms at BMCC: A Performing Artist’s Unique Path Back to College

Around five years ago, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) music major Stephanie Marrow could be found jetting off to one of Europe’s bustling capital cities, such as Paris or Edinburgh, during what was a two-year stint as an international flight attendant for a major airline.

“And then, just as things were getting really exciting, the pandemic hit,” said Marrow who has been living in New York City for around 12 years. “I was like, what are we going to do with this.”

Marrow ended up taking an extended leave of absence, during which time she did some soul-searching and eventually made the decision to go back to school. After exploring options at CUNY as well as available financial aid resources such as the Excelsior Scholarship program, an advisor suggested BMCC as an ideal stepping stone for someone who had been out of traditional school for an extended period of time, and looking to figure out the next step of their academic journey.

Marrow enrolled in BMCC in Fall 2021, and dove right in. She excelled in her academic studies, rediscovered her love of performing music and will complete her classes in December. She graduates in Spring 2024 and is a finalist for a BMCC/New York University Gallatin GUIDE scholarship.

But before she moves on to the next chapter, Stephanie Marrow will be featured on movie screens across New York City performing her original song “Puzzle Piece” in a BMCC promotional advertisement that will run before screenings of “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” The ad will premiere in theaters during December.

She hopes viewers of her on-screen performance take away a message.

“Never underestimate what a community college can do for a person,” said Marrow just a few days before the Thanksgiving holiday. “BMCC truly is a life-changing kind of place.”

Marrow took a non-traditional journey to BMCC

Marrow grew up with her mom, an older brother and a younger sister in Stoughton Massachusetts, a town of just under 30,000 residents south of Boston.

After graduating high school in 2006, she was accepted into The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a private conservatory for the performing arts. Marrow spent the first year at the conservatory’s New York City campus and the second year, at the campus in Los Angeles.

But Marrow, whose concentration was theatre, said at that point in her life, she wasn’t fond of Los Angeles. She ended up going back home to Massachusetts where she stayed until 2012 when Marrow made the decision to move back to New York City.

“I always loved New York and knew it was the place for me,” said Marrow, who over the next decade bounced from job to job. “I worked at a Children’s museum for a few years, I worked in an after-school program, in gyms, I taught Zumba classes, theatre and dance, I did everything you could imagine a starving artist would do.”

She later landed the flight attendant job, which she describes as one of the coolest experiences she had over the years. But after her pandemic leave of absence ended, she started making solid plans to go back to school.

When Marrow first started BMCC, she says she didn’t really know what to expect at a community college. But, after spending some time on campus, she realized her time at BMCC, where lower Manhattan is an extension of the classroom, would be uniquely New York.

“When I’m in our music classes in the gorgeous rehearsal halls, I feel like I’m at Julliard or some other prestigious music school,” said Marrow. “Everyone is committed and excited to be there and do the work, our professors are always advocating and finding opportunities for performing and other experiences at public venues, and that’s a very big deal in New York City.”

In October, for example, Marrow and other music students showcased a wide variety of talent during a debut performance on the lobby stage at the recently opened Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC).

Marrow says her voice teacher in the music program has proven especially inspirational.

“My voice teacher MaKayla McDonald, brought my voice back from the dead, and has always supported me and my endeavors even when I had no faith in myself,” said Marrow.

College is more enjoyable the second time around

Beyond rediscovering her love of performing music, Marrow is in a cohort of the Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP) students—where students benefit from comprehensive and personalized advisement, academic support services, professional development opportunities, tuition assistance, transportation and textbooks.

“My English courses led me to become an ASAP English tutor,” said Marrow. “My Honors English class with Professor Jason Schneiderman was especially amazing. He helped me strengthen my writing abilities while also helping all of us nurture and embrace the weird, different, quirky and other in terms of literature, life, and expression.”

In addition to performing, Marrow says in the future, she hopes to increase her activism, and plans to further strengthen her writing skills and articulate meaningful discourse that might impact legislation that improves people’s lives.

“I’m always looking for a way to combine everything I love and care about that will make a difference in the world,” said Marrow.

Marrow’s journey to BMCC was what some might call non-traditional, and she has this advice for other adults who might be deciding whether or not to go back to school.

“I say it’s even more enjoyable the second time around,” said Marrow. “Even if it’s your first time, but you’re older, you will be able to understand and grasp things better than when you are a 17-year-old freshman just out of high school.  I think college life is so much more fun and easier when you know a little bit more about yourself.”