Finding Out that Drexel Is Where I Belong

Choosing to come to Drexel in the fall of 2016 has been one of the best decisions of my life. When I graduated from high school, I was excited but mostly nervous for my college life to begin. I was nervous that I would not like my major, I would not make any friends, I would not like the campus, and that I would not adapt to living on my own for the first time in my life. These are the thoughts that run through every college freshman's head at least once, if not many times, at the beginning of their college journey. However, I quickly realized that there was no need to be nervous about any of these things. I realized that Drexel was where I am meant to be.

My first classes at Drexel were all with people in my major, Design and Merchandising, and I was very intimidated by my professors, my peers, and the classes in general. Most of my classes were small, so there was a lot of time for everyone to quickly get to know each other. I am so happy that I was in a setting like this because in a short couple of weeks, I was becoming close friends with the people in my major, learning so much from my professors, and loving everything about my classes and Drexel. Halfway through my first term at Drexel I realized that I had never really felt like I had belonged anywhere before, but now I felt like Drexel was where I belonged.

A year later, I am best friends with those people in my major and Drexel is my home. I could never imagine my college life any differently; I love everything about my major, my professors, my friends, my peers, and Philadelphia. I have also joined a couple of clubs, and I am in a sorority. Choosing to come to Drexel has surrounded me with the most amazing people, experiences, and opportunities; and it is these people, experiences, and opportunities that I will have with me for the rest of my life.

Drexel has also allowed me to grow so much as a person. I feel like there is no better college setting for me, and I feel like I could never have grown into the person that I am today if I was not at Drexel. Everyone that I have met at Drexel is passionate about what they do or what they are aspiring to do in the future. It is a great environment to push yourself into being the best person that you can be. Finding where I was always meant to be, and starting my journey to my future is exciting and I am just thankful every day that I go to the most amazing university.

Julia Krawiec (Class of 2020) is a Design & Merchandising major from Oxford, PA.

Studying Architecture Hands-On

In the winter of my pre-Junior year, I committed to completing Drexel’s BS/MS program with the goal of earning my Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a concentration in structures. Of course, this demanding plan of study would require that I make sacrifices throughout the second half of my academic career — less free time, more challenging classes, etc. As such, in my mind, I had ruled out the possibility of participating in a traditional study abroad program, as it would be virtually impossible to enroll in such a demanding course load abroad.

Last fall, however, a previous architecture history professor reached out to see if I, or any of my peers, would be interested in a different type of study abroad, an Intensive Course Abroad for the upcoming summer. An Intensive Course Abroad is a two-week trip, usually between terms, that follows a class taken during the previous term. The class culminates in the two-week trip which, in this case, was about the architecture, culture, and history of Barcelona, Spain. Initially, I was hesitant to join the class, as I would be one of only a handful of engineers taking part in a class predominantly made up of students studying architecture and interior design. I was assured, however, that it was perfectly acceptable for engineers to join this trip and that their presence has augmented previous trips with a unique perspective to buildings and the built environment.

I am incredibly grateful that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and enroll in this Intensive Course Abroad as I gained more from this course than I ever imagined. Being able to not only learn about a city and culture through its unique architectural history, but to then actually experience the buildings and sites firsthand is an experience I will never forget. Furthermore, learning alongside students pursuing careers different than my own (architecture and interior design) provided insight and perspective that I didn’t even know I previously lacked. Having taken this course, I now feel better equipped to interact and collaborate with architects and interior designers more effectively, something I will certainly do throughout my career as a structural engineer.

To any Drexel student who wants to study abroad but thinks that it may not be possible, I highly recommend enrolling in an Intensive Course Abroad — it truly was an unforgettable and incredibly rewarding experience.

Albert Hanan (Class of 2020) is an Architectural Engineering major from Seattle, WA.

Absolutely Surreal

After coming to Drexel in the fall of 2014 through the Liberty Scholars program, I was determined to make the University my new home. Although my family was right down the street and willing to help with anything and everything, I decided to not go to them for everything to establish my independence. This was easier said than done of course. I oftentimes ran into common issues of navigating the academic abyss such as the most typical one of a freshman: "how to find good food?" But after a few weeks, I did get adjusted and I then set out to make some new friends.

I wanted to connect with other students from a similar place of understanding as myself. People whose lived experience and habitus would be very similar to or even the same as mine. Hence, I started to look for a Black student organization on campus where this dream of connecting with others with a similar world view would come true. It was much to my dismay to find that such an organization did not exist on campus. This longing for such an organization went on to my sophomore year. So, I decided to stop waiting for someone else and follow the slogan of my alma mater Boys' Latin Charter School and be the "architect of my own fortune" by founding the Black student organization at Drexel. In this case, an organization with a ton of very successful students discussing very personal issues (i.e., facing racism, addressing media misrepresentation of people of color). I already had experience founding a club at Drexel from my freshman year when my close friends Nino Avreyski, Wayne Bischoff, and I founded the Drexel Rotaract Club of Rotary International. So I knew all of the proper steps to take to make it happen as swiftly as possible.

The following month after I came up with this grand idea, the Drexel Black Action Committee was founded. It was a ton of work to get the organization fully functional, but I was able to do it. In regards to our events though, it took a ton of creativity, ingenuity, and innovation to have them, with a new event every week. It was only through the help of a ton of future leaders that these events were possible. My founding board helped me significantly with organizing these events. The founding board included eleven people: Kiera Wynder, Alexis Martin, Amber Rockson, Isaac Singleton, Che Benjamin, Stephen Bady, Mariah Hicks, Jailyn Poindexter, Kris James, and myself. We hosted prom dress giveaways for underprivileged young women, did a clothing drive for Haiti after their infamous 2016 hurricane, attended Philadelphia City Council Criminal Justice Reform testimonials, and much, much more. It was all of this hard, selfless work that allowed us to be featured on local and national television time and time again.

To date I've been hailed by the University's previous and current provosts, Dr. James Herbert and Dr. Brian Blake, as a dynamic leader. I've been honored as an ambassador to the trailblazing State Representative Margo Davidson Esq., and even assigned to be the College Student Recruiter for Drexel University's State Representative, Ms. Donna Bullock Esq. Most proudly, I was publicly honored by the best attorney in the entire state of Pennsylvania for the last decade, Mr. Thomas Kline Esq. on Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) for a district attorney debate I set up with Dean McGovern at the Drexel Kline School of Law.

Looking back on my freshman year when I was a timid young man I would not have thought any of this was possible. But because of someone believing in me enough to give me the Liberty Scholars full-tuition scholarship, I was able to have a high level of confidence and sense of value instilled in me that allowed for me to pursue my dreams. I am forever thankful for Drexel, and the Liberty Scholars program in particular, for providing me with the opportunity to do so much over the last three years in my 21 years of life. For it has been an amazing platform and spring that has propelled me forward on a trajectory of much success.

Shahmar Beasley (Class of 2018) is a Political Science major from Philadelphia, PA.

I Walked onto a Division I athletic team

Throughout high school I always dreamed of being a college athlete. I wanted to be the person who wasn't just someone who was "pretty athletic" in high school. I wanted to be the epitome of what it meant to be a true competitor and master the John Wooden pyramid of success. I didn't think this dream was going to come to fruition, though, coming into and through the summer after my senior year of high school. While I was a 5-sport varsity athlete, I wasn't a standout all-star in one particular sport. I knew how to win, but I wasn't the one getting all of the individual accolades.

When I came to Drexel for summer orientation prior to starting my freshman year, this all changed. I was approached by one of the men's rowing team coaches, who asked if I was interested in trying to walk onto the team after finding out that I had an extensive athletic background. This event gave me an opportunity that I had all but given up.

After training with the recruited athletes through the fall of freshman year, I was able to beat out some of the recruits for a seat in the 2012-2013 men's freshman 8+. Beginning in this event, I have had unparalleled success through my junior year of eligibility. That success has resulted in now holding the all-time Drexel record for most Dad Vail Regatta victories (largest collegiate regatta in the world), hopefully to be made an unbeatable record next year, and finishing in the top-20 teams in the country each of my three years thus far (12th, 17th, and 20th, respectively).

I have been fortunate to have been part of many great crews, and I cannot take all of the credit for the crews' successes. Regardless of what event I have been participating in, I have always had eight other brothers who were all working just as hard as I was. And at every step of the way, our team has also been supported by our coaches, athletic department staff, and to a very significant level by the school administration. Without any of these components, our success would not be nearly as significant as it has been.  I have many friends who are members of collegiate programs, rowing and otherwise, and I have not heard of any who have a school so unified in their support of the program. My teammates and I are most grateful for this.

Dave Hanrahan (Class of 2017) is a Finance major from Mullica Hill, NJ.

Proud and Blessed to Be a Drexel Dragon

Coming to Drexel University was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am a first-generation college student and I came to Drexel as a transfer student from Harrisburg, PA. I went to a community college in Harrisburg called Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, HACC, where I got my associate’s degree in business. Thankfully, I was able to bring all of my credits from that program into Drexel.

When I was studying at HACC, I used to receive emails from Drexel University inviting me to apply and informing me about scholarships I could get because of being a member of the International Honor Society called Phi Theta Kappa – Alpha Nu Omega.

When I came to University City, I instantly fell in love with Drexel’s campus. There was something about the campus that made me feel at home, somewhere I belong. Although Drexel was my #1 choice, I still applied to some other colleges, including one in Kentucky where I received a full scholarship. However, after attending for a week, I knew that it was not the right fit for me. I called the admissions office at Drexel and asked them if I could start classes here in the spring, since I got admitted for the fall already. Calling them was a very impulsive idea, but I am glad that I did so! Thankfully, it was the last day to reapply to Drexel and I got admitted again with my scholarships. It felt like a miracle.

Being here, I realize that people at Drexel genuinely care about the students. Every day I discover a million new reasons to appreciate Drexel. During my first term, I had one large class with over 200 students, but even in that class the professor walked around the room while lecturing and made sure we all were engaged through various class activities and discussions. Most of my classes here are small, and we are very engaged and do many projects in class related to the current events. We even work closely with real-world businesses. Drexel is my heaven on earth.

Here at Drexel, my curriculum is set up exactly how I wished. I am currently double majoring in Marketing and Marketing Research, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and minoring in Management Information Systems. This is exactly what I wanted to study for the kind of career I want. Also, being at Drexel, I realize the connections that students make with professionals. I am currently the director of marketing at ALPFA Drexel, a professional organization that is partnered with multiple companies such as KPMG, PWC, Johnson and Johnson, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and more. I am also part of many other student organizations here.

Drexel is different than other institutions because we get real-life experience. It is a very thin line between what we study here at Drexel and what’s happening in industry and business because of the cooperative educational system. I see many large businesses coming to Drexel to recruit our students and it tells a lot about Drexel’s quality. Because of all the opportunities that Drexel offers, I feel ready for the future. Having all the experience here, including co-op, I know that I will have a lot to offer to my career field.

Prity Das (Class of 2020) is a Marketing major from Harrisburg, PA

This Is How A Drexel Co-op Really Sets You Apart

People have been asking me what the differences between co-ops and internships are since 2012 when I first embarked on a co-op. Understandably, my extended family and friends from home tried to decipher what really sets Drexel's program and opportunities apart from other internship programs in the country.

Today, in my role as an Admissions Counselor at Drexel, students and families from all across the world ask the same questions to help understand why co-op is such a major part of Drexel's appeal. Why do we commit so much of the time during our presentations on campus talking about students' co-op stories? Why, when you walk around our campus, do you hear students talking about A-round and their co-op advisor so much? What is it about the cooperative education experience that has made Drexel keep the program for nearing 100 years?

All of these questions are incredibly fair, and that is why I am here to help! This article will highlight a few places where the co-op experience will differ from a traditional internship. Hopefully, it will help the reader understand why up to 18 months of your Drexel experience is spent outside of our campus and classrooms.

A major piece of a co-op, for me, that separated the work from what you think about as an internship, is the quality of work required. Drexel students on co-op are expected to be full-time, entry-level employees. They commute to work on public transportation, they have a badge and computer accounts, they have review meetings with their supervisors, and many are expected to prepare a presentation at the end of their co-op to highlight what they have worked on and learned. A co-op is not getting coffee for their boss, they are not just killing time to reach the end of the day or week, and they are not just seen as a passing face merely popping in for the summer. Also, the fact that the co-op employee gets the chance to rate their co-op experience for future students to see encourages our partner companies to make sure they are providing the most challenging and productive experience possible.

A reason why co-op employees are given this higher level of experience and responsibility is because they are simply in their positions longer. Most co-ops are six months in length, running either from September through March or March through September. This length of time is beneficial for both the employee and the employer. First, employees have the chance to see many projects through from start to finish and can become accustomed to a work culture. For the employers, their talent and human resources team do not have to go out and find new interns every three months. Also, so much less time is wasted in creating job descriptions and posts, interviewing and hiring, and training new team members. This time is so valuable to any company and it is time that hiring a Drexel co-op can give back to the employer.

The Drexel co-op program also prepares students for life after graduation. Most co-op students are applying for many jobs while they are still in school. Looking back on my time in undergrad, I completed over 30 interviews for co-op positions. That experience has really propelled me in my life post-graduation and given me a lot more confidence in the job application process. On paper, co-ops are respected for the impact that they have and the experience they give employees. The power of a 6-month co-op and the experiences you can list on your résumé are impressive to potential hiring managers.

Finally, and most importantly, the experience working in your industry, in a professional role, all while still being a student makes you a better employee for all of your future jobs. Employers are not just looking for great résumés and interviewers, they are looking for productive and professional employees. That is what the co-op can do for you.

There is so much value in expanding your learning and education while in college beyond the boundaries of a classroom or campus. The co-op program is giving so many Drexel students a wonderful opportunity to explore post-graduation life with the safety net of their Drexel education behind them. Often, Drexel students will find what they want to do through co-op, but sometimes you actually figure out what you don't want to do, which can be just as if not more valuable for your future career and life satisfaction.

Kevin Murray is an Admissions Counselor at Drexel, as well as an alumnus. He spends his free time drinking coffee and thinking about where in the world he wants to travel next.

Summer Days in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is an amazing city to live in year-round, but in the warmer months, everyone starts to venture out of their homes to explore everything the city has to offer! Everywhere you look there are fantastic events for the entire city to enjoy.

One of my favorite places to hang out in the summer months would be Spruce Street Harbor Park. Just at the edge of the Delaware River, the park has everything that would equate to a fun summer day. The park itself has plenty of trees and offers a ton of nice, cooling shade in addition to a copious number of hammocks to lounge around in! In fact, I have more than once gotten myself stuck in the hammocks. There are so many colors between the hammocks, overhanging flags, and colored lights. So at least I have beautiful things to look at when I get myself stuck and rolled up like a burrito.

In the daytime, you can have fun out on the water in a swan-shaped paddle boat or canoe! They also have one lone Dragon-shaped paddle boat. Being Drexel Dragons, this is the boat that my friends and I always fight over. At night, you can sit in nets that overhang the edge of the river or you can sit up on the grassy knolls enjoying some ice cream from the Franklin Fountain.

Right down the river walk from Spruce Harbor Park is Penn's Landing. In the winter, Penn's Landing has a beautiful outdoor ice skating rink. Now that we are in the summer months, they have turned it into a roller rink and fair grounds! They have everything you could ask for: a Ferris wheel and other small rotating rides, carnival games, and a small arcade! I also can't forget about the Chickie's and Pete's. Nothing says summertime fun like Chickie's and Pete's and riding a Ferris wheel. My priority when I am there is always crushing my friends at pinball. I'm a regular customer of the Lord of the Rings pinball machine inside the lodge area.

And so, if you are looking for ice cream, paddle boats, fair grounds, or Lord of the Rings pinball, Philadelphia is an amazing city to spend the summer in. Even if you aren't interested in any of my weird hobbies and likes listed here, there is easily something for everyone in this city! Visiting these locations is a great way to leave campus for a little bit to go exploring. One thing is for sure, you will never find yourself bored while living in Philadelphia.

Annie is a pre-junior at Drexel University. She is a part of the 5 year, 3 co-op Nursing program and will be graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has spent her first two co-ops working at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and hopes to work there upon graduating. Annie has been familiar with Drexel University from a young age as both of her parents are alumni. Outside of school, she enjoys photography, spending time with family and friends, and interacting with prospective students interested in studying at Drexel University.

Experiencing City Hall

As a student in the Pennoni Honors College, I am fortunate enough to get opportunities that would not otherwise be available to me. One of these opportunities is the Honors Colloquia course, a specialized class on a topic I would not get to learn about otherwise. Every term there are different colloquia offered, but this term I was lucky enough to get into a class about one of the most iconic sites in Philadelphia that I am very eager to learn about: City Hall.

The goal of the class is to teach students about the history, architecture, and politics of Philadelphia City Hall, the largest active municipal building in the country. Not being a Philadelphia native, City Hall was one of the most striking and impressive buildings I saw when first getting acclimated to the city. I recall being fascinated and almost awe-struck by the building's size and the attention to detail, covered in sculptures on every facade. The height, the enormous statue of William Penn, and the clock on the face of the tower all combine to create a sense of admiration for the building. Who would think that two years later, I would be taking a course that delves into the details of the building's history, architecture, and politics.

Of course, no course about City Hall would be complete without a tour of the building, so just in the second week of the term, we were taken on a tour of City Hall, getting to see things I never would have otherwise. We were first taken around the outside of the building, seeing the four specific portals on each cardinal direction of the building. We learned that each entrance served a different purpose and was therefore given a unique design with the hope of inspiring different emotions when entering. When we entered the building, we were taken to the reception hall with its mahogany fireplace and portraits of past mayors lining the walls. We were then taken to Conversation Hall, a dramatic room once used for discussions among select councils and municipal legislature, now used for meetings and receptions. With great detailing throughout and a full-sized sculpture of George Washington at the front, the room is truly incredible.

No tour of City Hall would be complete, however, without getting to see the observation deck. We were taken up in groups of four through a small elevator to the panoramic deck enclosed with glass walls. Right below the bronze William Penn statue, we were able to see all of Center City and beyond. A truly breathtaking experience, it's amazing to think that only two years prior, I never could even fathom getting to see Philadelphia from that aerial and historic location through a class at Drexel, yet there I was, learning in the most hands-on way, 484 feet in the sky.

Albert Hanan is a Sophomore at Drexel University studying architectural engineering with a minor in business administration. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Albert is a member of the Pennoni Honors College as well as the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. When not in class or studying, Albert enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and playing guitar.