Most incoming freshmen will tell you that there’s much more to college than pursuing a career—it’s also about personal growth and embracing the opportunity for a fresh start. That’s how Elijah Pettus feels as he starts his first semester at the University of North Alabama (UNA).
“I’ve always kept to myself,” Elijah says. “I’ve never wanted to go out and talk to people.”
Part of Elijah’s fresh start, however, includes getting more involved than he would have in the past. Luckily, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that over the next four years. In fact, students often say that UNA’s tight-knit community makes it easier to get involved when compared to larger universities. Best of all, Elijah has joined the university at a particularly exciting time: He’s a member of the 2030 Bicentennial Class!
In other words, Elijah is currently on track to graduate the very same year that UNA turns 200. The four years leading up to this historical celebration, he believes, will only enhance his experience as a UNA Lion.
“Two hundred years is a long time. I want to be able to learn from [the people who have helped shape UNA] and grow from that,” Elijah says. “It’s an honor to be a part of UNA after this long and to be a part of this class.”
In addition to his personal growth, Elijah is also dedicated to pursuing a career that utilizes both his skills and passions. At the moment, he has his sights set on mechanical engineering. While the specifics of his goal could change, such as his major, one thing is for certain: He loves to solve problems and wants to do get paid to do just that.
“I’ve always loved problem solving, even from a young age, like with puzzles,” he says. “I’ve loved it all my life. Then, in high school, I was part of a robotics team. I got to experience problem solving in a real-life scenario.”
UNA’s engineering department contains high-quality facilities that were made for problem-solvers exactly like Elijah, which is something he noticed during a tour of campus as a prospective student. But the facilities aren’t the only reason this 17-year-old freshman was drawn to UNA; it was also the people he met here, and his own loved one’s experiences with the program, that piqued his interest.
In fact, Elijah is already thinking about a potential career at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, located in Athens, AL. That said, no matter where he ends up post-graduation, he aims to secure a solid future for himself and the family he’d like to have one day. In the meantime, though, he has plenty of opportunities to explore new friendships and extracurriculars the university has to offer, like Lambda Sigma Phi and Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM).
“I’m looking forward to the people that I meet, the new community, the new things to see, the new environment from high school, and the freedom. Just the overall freedom.”
You never know what the future will hold. That said, UNA offers students the resources and support they need in order to set themselves up for success. Knowing that, Elijah hopes that by his graduation day in 2030, he can say that he truly took advantage of every opportunity he was given.
“Don’t be afraid to try new stuff,” Elijah advises fellow students and his future-self. “That’s always been something I’ve been worried about, just getting out of my comfort zone. Over the next four years, I want to put myself out there, talk to more people, and just grow. Overall, I just want to grow.”