What’s it really like being a student in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences? As Duke welcomes its 100th class, we’re launching a four-year documentary series that chronicles the experiences of student life at Trinity — the good, the bad and the (hopefully) not so ugly. We’ll be telling stories and sharing photos, videos and social media updates as we follow four of our undergrads from move-in day to graduation, and everything in between.
“Not having to declare my major for a year and a half gives me the time and freedom to explore. I want to test myself to see how much I can learn in different fields and subjects."
Drew Smith grew up in a small, tight-knit community 45 minutes south of Portland, Oregon. When it came time for college, he wanted to spread his wings a bit and seek a greater sense of independence. “Coming to Duke is a total switch-up for me,” he shares. “I’m meeting people from so many different backgrounds; it’s been such a healthy experience.”
Smith chose Duke for the strong academics and the sports programs — like the track team where he throws the javelin. Currently undecided, he’s excited by what a liberal arts education brings. “I didn’t want to go the engineering route,” he explains, “and the majors offered at Trinity give me so many different choices.” Passionate about numbers, he’s enrolled in Economics 101, but he’s also taking a post-apocalyptic fiction course, simply because it sounded interesting.
“Not having to declare my major for a year and a half gives me the time and freedom to explore. I want to test myself to see how much I can learn in different fields and subjects.”
While everyone’s first year of college comes with a certain level of anxiety, Smith plans to use his nerves to his advantage. “The body can’t tell the difference between nervousness and excitement, it’s up to the brain to determine it,” he explains. “Yes, I’ll be nervous my first year at college, but I plan to turn my nervousness into excitement for coursework, meeting new people — the whole experience.”
