My Road to Commencement: Bailey McCloskey

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Bailey McCloskey, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor's degree in civil engineering as part of the Penn State Harrisburg Class of 2025. Here, he shares his journey through higher education:

"My academic journey at Penn State Harrisburg began in 2014. It's been a long road filled with challenges, blessings and experiences that shaped me in ways I never could have imagined.

"From the start, I was eager to get involved on campus. I joined organizations such as the Student Government Association, Student Activity Fund Committee, Chancellor's Leadership Access Student Program, Multicultural Academic Excellence Program, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and I served as a new student orientation leader. These experiences taught me invaluable skills, how to organize and run events, the importance of community, and what it truly means to be a leader.

"In 2016, I faced a turning point: I learned I would need to fund my own education. I worked multiple jobs, saved every dollar, and at times had to step away from school entirely. I attended semesters when I could afford them and used every break to work and plan my next move. During that time, I gained hands-on experience in civil engineering, working as a site estimator in Philadelphia for three years.

"Despite that great opportunity, I never let go of my dream to finish what I started. With the unwavering support of my fiancée, Rossy, we made the decision to move in together so I could return to school in the 2024 fall semester. Coming back after such a long break was one of the hardest things I've ever done, I had to re-learn how to be a student again. But I returned determined not just to finish, but to finish strong.

"That determination opened doors I never expected. Since returning, I've maintained a GPA above 3.0 and I secured a summer internship with Alexander Building Construction, the construction management company behind the campus' new Academic Learning Center. Working on that building has been an incredible experience. My final semester I continued interning part time while taking six classes. It was a challenge to balance everything, but it gave me invaluable knowledge and real-world experience. All the hard work paid off, and I'm proud to be joining Alexander full-time in January.

"This journey wasn't easy, but it was the right path for me. Doing things my own way taught me perseverance and resilience. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. I achieved my best academic performance since returning, landed my dream internship, and secured a full-time position as a project engineer months before graduation. I am beyond blessed to graduate this semester, and none of this would have been possible without the love and support of my incredible fiancée.

As I walk across the stage at commencement, I will carry with me not just a degree, but a story of perseverance, growth and gratitude, a reminder that every challenge can lead to something extraordinary."