Drake Allsop

Hometown: South Jordan, Utah

Major: Management

I remember the dilemma I faced in deciding what college to attend. I knew I wanted a university education that could prepare me for a challenging and rewarding career. I knew BYU would offer this, but so could many other colleges. After spending a weekend at the Y during my senior year, I learned that it was the people more than anything else that would make or break my college experience. My classmates, roommates, and professors, would influence me much more than the facilities or location. Together with this realization, I decided that nowhere would I find better people to associate with than at Brigham Young University. This was the moment I knew that I would go to BYU.

My first three days at college were among the hardest, because I didn't know anyone and I didn't have the courage to go out and make new friends. Some lessons we learn over months and years, but this particular lesson of friendship I learned in one day. During a large group activity with a bunch of other freshman, I suddenly realized that these people around me were in the exact same situation—they didn't know anyone but wanted to make friends. I discovered that if I would swallow my nervousness and just go meet people, I would make friends. I still can't explain it, but at that moment, I became a new Drake, not afraid to meet people and make friends. It still makes me nervous sometimes, but I like to greet people as I walk by, and meet the person waiting at the crosswalk. I strike up a conversation with the people waiting in line behind me, and learn the names of my classmates. I will forever be grateful for this lesson I learned my freshman year.

BYULinks

FYE

Drake Allsop

Drake Allsop