The College Experience is stationed in the heart of the Capital Region of New York State. Many students choose to remain in the area very close to the College of Saint Rose to maintain their bonds with the staff and their friends while still receiving services from the auspices of Living Resources, Inc.
The numerous amenities such as nearby Market 32 grocery stores, the CDTA Bus Line; two major malls, the Times Union Center, and even hiking trails make life in Albany quite comfortable. But it does not have everything. Sometimes one craves the mist of seawater and several amusement parks only a short walk away. On occasion, it becomes necessary to travel a few hours for these extra amenities, which is exactly what Andrew Maggio did from Thursday, July 25, 2019 to Monday, July 29, 2019!
Andrew is a 2014 graduate of the College Experience and chose to take part in the Asperger’s Summit, which is a trip organized by Jesse Saperstein who serves as the Media and Activities Liaison for the College Experience.
The Asperger’s Summit is a chance for individuals on the autism spectrum to enjoy an affordable and fun-packed beach vacation for at least three full days in Wildwood Crest, NJ only a few hours away from Albany. It is also a chance to cut-loose in a harmless and safe fashion with fellow travelers who are sympathetic toward the characteristics of their traveling companions.
Also joining the trip was Jason Cohen who is a top seller on eBay and an active contributor to the Asperger’s/Autism Community.
Andrew and his peers stayed at the Caribbean Motel a quick walk away from the beach and boardwalk. The Caribbean Motel, located on 5600 Ocean Avenue in Wildwood Crest, first opened in 1957 and has been operational since that time as it rages against the relentlessness of time and offers a nostalgic paradise with a crescent shaped pool! The participants of the Asperger’s Summit wish to thank the motel staff for their hospitality and hope to visit again next year.
Andrew enjoyed renting bicycles with his peers at Green’s Bike Rentals and can be seen photobombing in the background. The second photo is (from left to right) Jason, Jesse, and Andrew posing in front of cultural memorabilia at the Doo Wop Coffee Shop down the road from their hotel. Andrew also convinced Jesse to join him on the famous Zoom Phloom log ride (twice!) on the Boardwalk among other attractions.
We all need to occasionally release ourselves from routine and work to create a deviation from reality. At the Alumni Activities Club, we will continue to do this for all of our alumni and Jesse actually transported six graduates to Wildwood Crest two years earlier in the Summer of 2017 when everybody stayed at the Days Inn for one last gasp of summertime sustenance right after Labor Day that year.
What comes after graduation? Many College Experience students, in fact most, choose to remain in Albany. They maintain friendships with their fellow and former graduates, form romantic partnerships, and some get married.