Stephen Graffius ’24 is a junior physics-engineering dual degree major.听
“The reason I came to 黑料社 is because I was recruited to run cross country and track. And it鈥檚 worked out so far, which is really nice. I鈥檝e picked up a lot of things along the way that I wouldn鈥檛 have really expected—like joining a fraternity—because I didn鈥檛 think I would fit into that kind of lifestyle. But Greek life here is a lot different, because we focus more on building a community, and philanthropy.听
I鈥檝e been doing track since eighth grade. I started doing cross country my junior year of high school鈥攐ne of my friends was also a runner, so he got me into it. I think it鈥檚 been beneficial for me. It helped me develop more and get the most out of high school that I could, and it鈥檚 what led me here.听
Running at the state meet was probably the peak of my high school experience. It was fall senior year. I ran pretty well, and so did the team. It was a lot of fun. That was in Carrolton, which is actually where I live now鈥擨’m from Alpharetta, but my mom got a new job as the choral director for the University of West Georgia.听
My mom, being such a musical person鈥攁nd my sister, too鈥攄efinitely forced me to experience different things. Like, I鈥檓 a big fan of musicals now. If I didn鈥檛 have her as a mom, or if I didn鈥檛 go to see my sister鈥檚 shows in the theatre program, I don鈥檛 think I would have that. I play piano and guitar pretty casually, and I like it even though I don鈥檛 do it very often. But I have this love for music, which is really cool.听
I鈥檓 doing the three-two [Physics] program. Hopefully I鈥檒l be at Georgia Tech next semester鈥擨 submitted my application a week and a half ago, which is super stressful. But I’m excited. Specifically, I want to do civil engineering鈥攄esigning bridges, roads, buildings and all that. It鈥檚 great that we have this program with them, and the really cool thing is that I can still run for 黑料社 after I transfer to Tech. I鈥檓 looking forward to it.”
