Mercy College’s Rose Harper is hardly the typical college student, and not just because she frequently quotes Robert Frost’s "The Road Not Taken" even though she’s a Spanish major. What makes Harper unique is not her propensity for reciting lines from the classic poem it’s that she’s living them.

When an unplanned pregnancy threatened to derail her dream of becoming a college student-athlete, the outside hitter for the Mercy volleyball team didn’t give up — she just took a different route. Now she happily juggles far more than just her books and knee pads. On top of balancing a full academic course load, including honors classes, with athletics obligations, Harper also is the mother of a 2-year-old son. And she manages to honor all those responsibilities even while her fiancé completes a tour of duty with the Marines in Japan.

In the poem, Frost talks about contemplating two roads that diverge in the woods — one well worn and the other not so much — and his choice to follow the one obviously less well traveled.

Harper’s journey along her own version of that road began in summer 2003 when the three-sport standout in soccer, basketball and volleyball discovered she was pregnant. Plans of heading to either Northwestern University or Boston College were hastily retooled in preparation for motherhood.

Harper worked part time during the day and took classes to finish her high school graduation requirements at night in the months leading up to the birth of her son, Carlos Andres, early the following year.

Even as she began adjusting to her new role, Harper didn’t give up on pursuing her education. That goal was not only something she wanted to achieve, but also something her parents insisted upon. She enrolled at Westchester (New York) Community College, where she maintained a grade-point average above 3.00 while competing on the school’s volleyball team and continuing to work.

After finishing at the community college this past spring, Harper transferred to Mercy in time for the fall semester. She also got in touch with the college’s head volleyball coach, Jennifer Addison, who ultimately offered Harper a scholarship.

"When I was in high school, I wanted to get an athletics scholarship to go to school. Then after I had Andres, I didn’t think it was possible," said Harper, who recalled debating with her parents the decision to add another obligation to her load — especially one that would take time away from her son. But the chance to accomplish a long-held dream proved too enticing. "I didn’t have my senior year of sport because I was pregnant. It was like a hole in my heart, kind of, so I’m fulfilling that now," she said.

As challenging as the decision to pursue collegiate volleyball was to make, finding a way to follow it through has been tough. Even on most weekends, Harper’s day starts at 5:30 a.m. and includes a dizzying cycle of practices, games, classes, chores, homework and time with Andres. She jokes that once in a while she even tries to cook dinner, or — on a more serious note — attempts to do something nice for her parents, who have been a constant source of support and encouragement. Harper said her fiancé’s parents, her future in-laws, have been tremendously supportive as well.

Keeping her priorities straight also has helped Harper successfully manage all her responsibilities, and her daily planner has become a constant companion.

"My son comes first before anything. After that, academics and sports are tied for second," she said. "For me, it’s like taking on all those roles was easy because they are all things I enjoy and love."

Harper, who is almost done with her first semester at Mercy (though she’s classified as a junior), said overall things are going well. Throughout her experiences thus far, she has gathered a host of lessons, many of which have contributed to her personal growth and all of which will undoubtedly be useful once she achieves her goal of becoming a teacher.

"I feel like I’ve grown so much as a person," she said. "I realize family is the most important thing in my life and also that sometimes when you think you’ve hit a dead end, the road keeps going. I always quote Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken.’ I feel like that’s the theme for my life. Even though I’m going a different direction than all of my friends, I’m not the typical college student. I’m still going to get to a great place in the end. I’m just making a right when everyone else made a left."