Gabriel Grajewski with his sister
With a newfound abundance of time spent reflecting on his past five years at Drexel University, BS/MS Architectural Engineering Senior Gabriel Grajewski looks forward to new horizons.
“Finishing college from home has given me a chance to reflect on where I’m coming from before taking my next step forward in life, so to speak. Despite the challenges of working from home, it’s been nice to look around and realize how far I’ve come since I started college.”
Naturally, adjusting to virtual education has taken some time, both personally and electronically. With obligations that come with Senior Design, Grajewski looks forward to weekly video chats with his group, however this can be arduous when working on a computer that’s on its last legs. Although he’s celebrating graduation in quarantine, he’s able to focus on his idealism and look to his prospects as an incoming PhD student.
“I’m starting my PhD at Drexel, so I’ll be graduating again soon enough—and hopefully we won’t have this problem then!” Grajewski jokes. “I’ll be continuing research in Architectural Engineering, focusing on indoor air quality. I’m going to be working with Emma Zhang, who’s one of my favorite people on Earth. I had her as a T.A. my sophomore and pre-junior years, and during my junior year I started doing research with her. I’ve not had a single bad experience.”
Grajewski notes how fulfilling his time in his varied roles have been—even influencing his visions for a future career.
“I’d say my research has been the most rewarding part of my time both at Drexel and through co-op. I had a co-op experience with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which was a major influence in my professional career,” said Grajewski. “I didn’t think I would be doing research coming into Drexel, but that co-op changed my life. It’s something I’d like to do at some point in the future.”
Besides research, Grajewski also feels passionate about his experiences with student organizations and volunteerism. He’s been the Events Coordinator of the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) since his sophomore year. While it’s a small organization, he notes it’s been interesting working through growing pains and shifting interests, as well as interacting with other people who have different ideals and goals for the organization.
“I’d say my research has been the most rewarding part of my time both at Drexel and through co-op. I had a co-op experience with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which was a major influence in my professional career.”
Gabriel Grajewski
Grajewski has also spent time volunteering with Girls Inc. through Drexel, a program where you work with groups of middle school girls to guide curriculum with STEM. “They plan a variety of activities that teach them concepts, and the program facilitates a wonderful experience, and we get to work with the girls directly,” says Grajewski. He’s excited to volunteer with the program again this upcoming year.