Aimee Wardle

“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” – John C. Maxwell

In reality, college and the time you spend there is all about choices. It starts with making the choice to apply for college and then the sometimes stressful but always worth it choice of where to go. Thankfully, those first two major choices of my adult life were the easiest and least stressful I could have made. From the first moment I stepped onto Drexel’s campus, I knew that this was a place I was meant to be. I visited campus an embarrassing number of times before I was accepted, and then a few more after I was accepted just for good measure. I was on a first-name basis with the then senior vice president of Enrollment Management, who tracked me down during my freshman year asking why I hadn’t applied yet to be a student ambassador.

Little did she know the impact she had on my life and future career. I entered Drexel as an international business major, with dreams of attending law school one day. While I enjoyed what I was learning in the classroom, my extracurricular involvement soon took the lead of my life. I got involved as a student ambassador giving tours to prospective students and their families, joined two club sports teams, helped found a sorority on campus, and got involved in Jewish life on campus, just to name a few. As a sophomore, I had quickly developed a passion for working with college-aged students. Thanks to Drexel’s Co-op program, I was able to gain practical experience as a sophomore working as a co-op with Enrollment Management and Student Life. I was able to be a part of the magic that goes into creating large-scale visit days to a university, as well as getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse at all of the work that goes into planning New Student Orientation.

All of the choices I made prior to my pre-junior year and second co-op seemed too easy, but it didn't stay that way. I had decided to accept a co-op in line with my business major and immediately realized that it was not what I wanted to do with my life. I stumbled and felt stuck. After many conversations with staff members whom I had come to know well and respect, and more than a few boxes of tissues, I learned that I could take my passion for working with college students and make a career out of it. With the help of my academic advisor, I was able to tweak my major to stay within business administration, but focus more on areas of business that would help me with a future career in Student Affairs. I utilized my third co-op to return to higher education and was able to play a large role in developing and overseeing New Student Orientation for the institution that I love.

With the guidance and mentorship of many Drexel staff members, I was able to make even more important life choices: where to go to graduate school, what area of student affairs to focus on, and I even got advice throughout my first professional job search. Not only did Drexel provide me with a great education in the classroom, it provided me with a network of individuals who are always there to support and guide me through whatever choices life throws my way. And when my students ask me where I went to college, I proudly tell them that I am a Drexel Dragon and it was the best choice I ever made.

Aimee Wardle is a New England native now living in Atlanta, GA. She currently serves as a Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Kennesaw State University. In her free time, she loves reading, watching Netflix, baking challah bread, and spending time with family and friends.

Aimee Wardle