Flyer Promise student is on his way to new heights

When you get to college, life can be a balancing act. On the seesaw of social life versus academics, Alexander Joseph admits his first year was weighted heavily toward fun.

Now a senior mechanical engineering technology major, Joseph looks back on the early challenges and thanks UD for getting him here — and he can almost see the finish line.

One mistake he knows he made early on was scheduling all afternoon and evening classes. When he had to drop Calculus 1 because of grades, he didn’t want to tell anyone.

But as a Flyer Promise Scholar, he had his success coach step in to offer support and tips for time management.

“I kind of had to get used to asking for help, which is something I did not like to do before,” he said.

Another growth point came his sophomore year. Joseph, who graduated from the Dayton Early College Academy, started taking on leadership roles. He helped high school students attending UD’s engineering camp, got a job as a resident assistant and was named an engineering ambassador, helping welcome prospective students. His grades rose, but the pressure took its toll.

“I was struggling a lot,” he said. “Around that time, I kinda just had to disappear.”

It was another opportunity for him to ask for help. He said his girlfriend and Flyer family helped support him. The relationships he had previously developed — such as with his PEERS student mentor and fellow students in the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center — helped him decompress and recenter. The continued assistance of Flyer Promise, which includes financial and academic support, also helped him grow, he said.

He can now say he’s hit his stride — turning a summer 2024 internship at Barnes Aerospace into a recurring co-op position and setting his sights on an aerospace job after graduation.

All this experience results in wisdom for Joseph to pass onto the next generations of Flyer Promise Scholars: “Make as many connections as possible.”

No matter the challenges, it’s good to have people around you to help you balance and grow.

Photo provided by Alex Joseph.