Maybe I’m just lucky.
At the most important juncture of my life, I decided to attend Stevens during my senior year of high school. I had many appealing options, and although they offered intangibles that couldn’t be overlooked, personal matters were the driving force behind my decision. Upon reflecting on my last four years at Stevens, I am forever grateful that those personal matters had such a profound impact on my decision, and I simply couldn’t imagine having been anywhere else.
My ties to Stevens run deeper than the first visit of my senior year of high school. Growing up, I’d always heard stories of Stevens from my grandfather, who graduated in the Class of 1956. He spoke with such pride about his time at Stevens and would often recall events that shaped his experience.
Me (right) pictured with my grandfather, Jerry Petraccoro (left), wearing Stevens gear when I was first admitted
On his first day of school, while sitting in DeBaun Auditorium with his class of around 300 students, President Harvey Nathaniel Davis instructed each student in the audience to look to their left and right, proclaiming they most likely wouldn’t be seen at graduation — and he wasn’t wrong. His graduating class size dwindled to about one-third just four years later.
Jerry Petraccoro (left), my Grandfather, pictured with his younger brother, Paul Petraccoro (right), during Jerry’s freshman year at Stevens, 1953
Stories like these are what placed Stevens at the top of my list from the very beginning. As someone fascinated by computers early in high school and who valued academic and professional rigor, Stevens boasted everything I aspired to attain, having stayed true to its core values since my grandfather’s era. And while I knew Stevens offered it all, it would ultimately depend on my own volition to seize those opportunities.
Having ruminated on the idea of joining Greek life, the first organization I pursued was Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp). I remember a vivid sense of uncertainty when I received a bid — at no fault of SigEp’s. Having had to make a consequential decision with haste, I was unsure if this was where I belonged. However, it was the sense of overall chapter purpose and great camaraderie that led me to rush in the Spring of my freshman year — another path I’m certainly fortunate to have taken. I’ve made intimate bonds during my time in SigEp that I couldn’t imagine spending my college years without, and I owe the organization entirely for the job I secured after graduation, thanks to the professional network I built within the chapter.
Through my involvement in SigEp, I found additional avenues in other forms of Greek life: Alpha Phi Omega and Order of Omega. It’s here that I was able to refocus my energy on community service as I did in high school, serving as philanthropy chair and coordinating volunteering events for those interested.
Another activity I missed from high school was band. In my freshman year, I made it a point to check out the Stevens Jazz Band, where I played the electric bass for a couple of semesters. I really enjoyed my time here and appreciated the work the performers put into our bi-annual show. The sheer number of songs we played each semester was something I was not accustomed to from high school, and it’s certainly something I’m glad to have experienced.
For my final organization on campus, I would like to speak about The Stute. Having written only a couple of articles here and there, it wasn’t until the final undergraduate semester that I became a regularly contributing member of the publication. Initially, I started out writing specifically about PATH renovation articles in 2025. Since then, I’ve expanded my catalog to include writings about outer space, Tech Fest, and the Stevens campus, to name a few. And when I was offered the opportunity to write about my time at Stevens, I couldn’t wait to talk about my upbringing and what led me to where I am today.
Which brings us to the present. The overall theme of my Senior Spotlight is luck. I feel incredibly fortunate for the choices I believe shaped my life for the best. Looking back on the journey, I wouldn’t change a single thing. While it is impossible to say how things would have unfolded on a different path, I can’t help but think a series of lucky events led me to tell this exact story today.
