Marching to His Own Beat

by: Owen Gearren ’27

Coming into college, everyone focuses on professional development and the drive to get a job post graduation. However, sometimes you have to remember to enjoy activities outside of your program to be not only well-rounded, but follow your passions. I have played the trumpet for eight years now, doing marching band for all of high school. I knew coming into college I wanted to be in the marching band and that it could be hard to manage with any degree, especially a double degree in engineering. However, one thing about PSE students and the program is the dedication the students have.

 I know for myself that I can have a lot going on at one time but the dedication the program has put in me will be matched by myself. Going from band practice to a company prenight, or a basketball game after a paper science lab can be such a shift in environment and responsibility, but I take it on. Other paper science students are in clubs and activities, such as intramural sports teams, religious clubs, dance teams, and professional development clubs, some even within our own department. 

The faculty and staff are very accommodating to outside activities, and many love to connect with us about our experiences, some even having similar experiences. I know Dr. Byrd was once in a band himself, and my current PSE 212 professor, Dr. Pawlak, is very invested in sports and I happen to be at the majority of those sporting events. This also can be fun to talk about with other students. I have had many times where my peers and friends will find me on the field or in the stands, maybe even on the big screen and take a picture of me. 

Overall, as an engineering student pursuing a double major in both Chemical Engineering and Paper Science Engineering, it is still manageable to find clubs, pursue other passions, and branch out to unfamiliar areas. I am having an amazing time at NCSU and who knows, you may just see me at a football game and not even know it.