Marching to a Different Drummer Led Her to Princeton
Throughout her school years, Analisa Prowse felt out of step with the typical classroom environment. She struggled both academically and socially. “It was hard for me to learn and to make friends,” she said. “My grades were not the best.”
Yet in an amazing turn of events, Analisa graduated this spring with an associate’s degree in criminal justice with highest honors. She received the 2025 Graduate Achievement Award in Criminal Justice, is a co-valedictorian of the Class of 2025, and will continue her education at Princeton University next Fall.
Analisa credits her transformation to PCCC, where she discovered that she could, indeed, learn and make friends, but just marched to a different drummer, and her rhythm harmonized with PCCC’s.
“The way the college schedules classes really helped me,” said Analisa. “I had more control over the way I could study and learn.” She also thrived on the diversity and sense of community at PCCC. “I had a sense of belonging here.”
It was not until she was in high school that Analisa was diagnosed with autism, but she said having a diagnosis did little to ease her struggle. “The school made some accommodations, but they weren’t what I needed. I was shot down by administrators when I requested something different.”
Feeling disheartened, Analisa took a gap year after high school and worked at Fair Lawn High School as a music instructor for the marching band. A violinist since she was eight years old, Analisa played in the high school orchestra for four years and, over time, learned guitar, piano, trombone, and assorted percussion instruments.
Analisa Prowse receives the 2025 Graduate Achievement Award in Criminal Justice presented by Professor Michael Walker. (Photo by Luis Ruiz)
A violinist at heart, Analisa even arranged a piece by Fleetwood Mac for strings. “It was played at a school concert and well received,” she said.
When she decided to move forward with her education, Analisa chose PCCC, where her mother, who grew up in Paterson, had earned a degree in Radiography years ago.
The PCCC environment, where being different seemed to be the norm, was liberating for Analisa. “I realized that I was in charge of my own education and of my opportunities,” she said. “I was able to take myself out of the box I had been placed in throughout my school years.”
Analisa learned to appreciate education in a whole new way. “Not only did I learn textbook things. I was learning to think critically, make meaningful connections between the courses I studied, and apply what I learned to the real world,” she explained.
Intrigued by the field of forensic psychology and by exploring the reasons why people think and behave the way they do, Analisa was gradually drawn to the wider range of humanities, especially philosophy and ethics.
Ironically, the student who struggled in the classroom for most of her early education now envisions a future as an academic professor “with the long-term goal to study the intersection of corporate law, ethics, and social justice.”
Accepted at New York University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Analisa admits she was both shocked and thrilled to receive the acceptance from Princeton. “When I visited the campus, I fell in love with it and with the people and opportunities there.” She plans to earn a bachelor’s in philosophy and pursue a certificate in religious studies. “A lot of our law comes from religious law,” she explained.
In a heartfelt valedictory speech at PCCC’s May 21st Commencement ceremony, Analisa said “attending this institution with so many non-traditional students is both humbling and inspiring…it has taught me patience, respect, greater tolerance, and community.” She implored her fellow graduates, “Don’t just be the change you want to see in the world, but fight for that change…and keep fighting until you bring your dreams into existence.”
Currently, Analisa is in Nashville, as she has been for several previous summers, working as an audio specialist for Drums Corps. “It’s kind of a niche activity for people who didn’t get to do marching band in high school. They learn and practice a routine, then compete against other Drum Corps teams around the country.”
It’s a perfect metaphor for Analisa who learned that marching to a different drummer sometimes made her feel out of step, but also took her to Princeton. March on, Analisa.
Written by Linda Telesco
Photo (to) John O’Boyle Photograpy
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