A Family of Dragons!

I have been familiar with Drexel from an early age, as both of my parents are Drexel graduates. I had grown up hearing about how they met for the first time as awkward freshmen in Drexel's very own Kelly Hall in October 1975. I had grown up hearing about my dad spending hours on the air of Drexel's radio station, WKDU, and then sliding under the closing gate of the old dining hall to get his dinner as the dining hall was closing. I had grown up hearing about my mom and how she would have to walk from campus in rain and snow to buy art supplies downtown in Center City only to nearly blow away in the wind with her poster board.

I could tell that Drexel was different, and so was I. I had found a place where I would fit in and stand out at the same time.

All of that being said, I really didn't think I wanted to go to Drexel for the longest time. I thought it would be weird to walk the same streets and have class in the same buildings as my parents did decades before. The thought of going to Drexel just never really appealed to me. That is, until I stepped on the University City campus for the first time.

The first time I came to Drexel's campus was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school. I was there for a summer information session about the nursing program, and with it came a tour. The information session blew my mind. I was so impressed with everything I learned in those 40 minutes and by the end, I was convinced that Drexel would undoubtedly set me on the path to success in my future career. That day was merely the beginning of my Drexel adventure.

While many things have changed and been updated in the years since my parents were students, the heart and spirit of the university is the same. Kelly Hall still stands tall as one of the freshman residence halls. WKDU still broadcasts. A new additional dining hall has made it much easier to get food whenever it is convenient for you. A new art supply store in our Chestnut Square complex has made it much easier for students to get the supplies they need without walking all over the city in bad weather.

My parents never pressured me into choosing Drexel. In fact, they talked me into looking at as many schools as possible. Through the overwhelming number of schools I looked into, Drexel stood out above the rest. I could tell that Drexel was different, and so was I. I had found a place where I would fit in and stand out at the same time. Stepping onto campus for the first time, I felt like I had found another home. I could see myself walking around and laughing and eating at every single one of the food trucks.

Looking back, I think my parents always knew that I would be the right fit for Drexel, but I greatly appreciate them letting me come to that realization on my own. I have seen what a Drexel education did for my parents' careers and how their co-op experience skyrocketed them to success. Drexel University is an amazing school for driven individuals looking to make an impact in their respective fields. Drexel was the right choice for my parents, just as it is certainly the right choice for me. I am proud to come from a family of Dragons.