thedrifter
01-25-09, 07:20 AM
Our Neighbors: From Ivy League to the Marines
By Chris Treadway
West County Times
Contra Costa Times
Posted:01/24/2009 03:39:43 PM PST
This column runs its share of announcements about young men and women who have chosen to serve in the U.S. military, but none in memory has come from a graduate of an Ivy League university. Until now.
Matthew Drazba, of Pinole, graduated from Harvard University in June and has joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was accepted to the Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va., where he has started training.
Although it doesn't seem like the most obvious option, there is some logic to the choice by Drazba, who distinguished himself at Harvard and earned a degree in government.
The 2004 graduate of De La Salle High School in Concord hopes to have a career in national security, and "His thinking is that he needs experience for what he's going to do in his career," said his mother, Pinole Economic Development Manager Mary Drazba. "His logic is, how do you get a career in that field and make recommendations that have to do with the military if you haven't been in the military?"
Matthew had been looking in a different career direction as an undergraduate at Harvard, originally focusing on philosophy and envisioning a career in engineering.
He was active in theater on campus, reviving the annual Shakepeare Night at his residence house, and served as Kirkland House liaison officer to the department of athletics. His well-rounded activities, which included involvement with the Institute of Politics, were honored in 2007 when he was named a David Aloian Memorial Scholar, an annual award to Harvard seniors "who made unique contributions to their Houses and to undergraduate life."
His career focus shifted in the summer of his junior year, when he landed a White House internship and was assigned to the Pentagon. "I think that really influenced him to move into national security," Mary Drazba said.
Matthew spent last summer at home in Pinole, working at Trader Joe's and catching up with friends he hadn't seen since enrolling at Harvard. Drazba, who is 6-foot-4 and weighed 275 when he played defensive tackle for the Harvard Crimson football team, also spent a lot of time running after the Marines told him to shed 50 pounds.
There were a lot of tears when parents Mark and Mary Drazba saw their son off to Quantico last month.
"We're really proud of him," Mary Drazba said. "These are times when not a lot of people want to serve. It's pretty cool. He's doing it because he has something inside him that makes him feel this is what he has to do."
"There are some mixed feelings," Mary Drazba acknowledged. "It's great training and you're proud to have him choose this, but it's kind of scary for me as a mom."
His parents nonetheless stand by their son's decision.
CONCERT TIME: The time of today's live CD recording concert of carols, hymns and spirituals by the Dan Damon Quintet at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St. in Point Richmond, is 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $10. Details: 510-232-1102.
Reach Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784 or ctreadway@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Ellie
By Chris Treadway
West County Times
Contra Costa Times
Posted:01/24/2009 03:39:43 PM PST
This column runs its share of announcements about young men and women who have chosen to serve in the U.S. military, but none in memory has come from a graduate of an Ivy League university. Until now.
Matthew Drazba, of Pinole, graduated from Harvard University in June and has joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was accepted to the Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va., where he has started training.
Although it doesn't seem like the most obvious option, there is some logic to the choice by Drazba, who distinguished himself at Harvard and earned a degree in government.
The 2004 graduate of De La Salle High School in Concord hopes to have a career in national security, and "His thinking is that he needs experience for what he's going to do in his career," said his mother, Pinole Economic Development Manager Mary Drazba. "His logic is, how do you get a career in that field and make recommendations that have to do with the military if you haven't been in the military?"
Matthew had been looking in a different career direction as an undergraduate at Harvard, originally focusing on philosophy and envisioning a career in engineering.
He was active in theater on campus, reviving the annual Shakepeare Night at his residence house, and served as Kirkland House liaison officer to the department of athletics. His well-rounded activities, which included involvement with the Institute of Politics, were honored in 2007 when he was named a David Aloian Memorial Scholar, an annual award to Harvard seniors "who made unique contributions to their Houses and to undergraduate life."
His career focus shifted in the summer of his junior year, when he landed a White House internship and was assigned to the Pentagon. "I think that really influenced him to move into national security," Mary Drazba said.
Matthew spent last summer at home in Pinole, working at Trader Joe's and catching up with friends he hadn't seen since enrolling at Harvard. Drazba, who is 6-foot-4 and weighed 275 when he played defensive tackle for the Harvard Crimson football team, also spent a lot of time running after the Marines told him to shed 50 pounds.
There were a lot of tears when parents Mark and Mary Drazba saw their son off to Quantico last month.
"We're really proud of him," Mary Drazba said. "These are times when not a lot of people want to serve. It's pretty cool. He's doing it because he has something inside him that makes him feel this is what he has to do."
"There are some mixed feelings," Mary Drazba acknowledged. "It's great training and you're proud to have him choose this, but it's kind of scary for me as a mom."
His parents nonetheless stand by their son's decision.
CONCERT TIME: The time of today's live CD recording concert of carols, hymns and spirituals by the Dan Damon Quintet at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St. in Point Richmond, is 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $10. Details: 510-232-1102.
Reach Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784 or ctreadway@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Ellie