We're continuing on this journey together of what makes Pfeiffer unique. For those who are jumping in during this week, don't worry, I'll catch you up. Last week and for the next four weeks, I will be making a point to not only share stories with you of some students here at Pfeiffer University but also how Pfeiffer is unique to them. So, this is the second part of a series of articles I am going to write entitled 'Why is Pfeiffer Unique?' As I have come to believe is something that Pfeiffer is and this idea is one that crosses to other students beliefs as well.
The second person I interviewed was Alexandre Stoiljkovic a junior a Business Management and Leadership major who plays soccer here at Pfeiffer. Alex is originally from France and this is his second year at Pfeiffer. How I met Alex was through him playing soccer and my love for watching soccer, as the first time I met him was at soccer games and mainly seeing him in the café.
Part of his story on how he got to Pfeiffer is as follows. He knew that he wanted to come to America to study, play soccer and also already had friends studying in America. So he also told me that someone originally at home helped with the entire process of getting a tryout video made and sent to coaches. He like any other student when going to place had fears about coming to Pfeiffer, but his specifically was different because he is an international student . His main fears were obviously the language barrier. But these fears were quickly fixed as he became comfortable in the Pfeiffer Pfamily. As he was also very excited about the new experiences that would come from being at Pfeiffer, just seeing how different it was in comparison to home.
One thing that truly shocked Alex, in a good way, was how true the phrase the Pfeiffer Pfamily was. As a student here he truly enjoys the environment and how much it is like a family here at Pfeiffer. Something else he shared was how even though Pfeiffer was lost in the middle of nowhere it was still fighting to make a name for itself. He also mentioned how he has spoken with other international students who are at other bigger schools and how it was not the same as Pfeiffer. That it was not as tight knit of a community that truly does care so much about their students, students caring about other students as well.
Like the previous article before this, the last question I asked Alex was how has Pfeiffer changed you for the better? This was his response: "This school has in a way forced me to open myself up more to others. Has challenged me to see the world around me differently. Overall forcing me to grow into a better person."
This University is one that is truly unique, even though this school may be small and in a little place called Misenheimer, that most people have never heard of, that is changing as Pfeiffer begins to make a name for itself. It is a campus where professors come out to athletic events and cheer like any other fan, a place where the president and her husband walk their three adorable dogs across the campus. It's a school where you know at least the face of almost everyone you pass, it's the Pfeiffer Pfamily.
