Spring 2013: "I Am Elon" with David Brown '13

For David Brown, Elon not only provided a place to grow intellectually but also personally. Read his story in this installment of "I Am Elon."

Before finance major David Brown ’13 departs for Boston to work as an associate financial analyst for EMC Corporation, he’s chipping away at his Elon bucket list.

For him, that means going to Midnight Meals, exploring every building on campus and winning Popsicles at bingo. David wants to “scoop it all up” before he bids Elon farewell. Although he’s embraced college life, David’s trajectory to Elon was anything but traditional. He began E.M.T. training at 15 in New Jersey and was a licensed firefighter by 17.

“It stopped being a hobby and became a love,” he says. “These people became my family.”

Situated next to a fire station that welcomes college student volunteers, Elon was an obvious choice for David. Throughout his college career, he continued training and responding to calls and was affectionately nicknamed “the Elon firefighter” by his peers. He also became many other things: junior class president, an active member of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’ sales competition team and a dedicated boyfriend.

“I met the person I love my freshman year,” he says. “We’ve done everything together, and it’s been great to have the one you love to share all of the Elon experiences with.” He and girlfriend Mary Peters are planning to move to Boston together after graduation.

David recently bought his cap and gown and says he’s ready for graduation. Despite joking about tripping on the way to receive his diploma, he’s excited and a bit introspective.

“I think getting the acorn as a freshman, then the sapling as a graduate, is perfect because you really do blossom into something new here. Hopefully I’ll become a big oak tree.”

“I Am Elon” is a multimedia series featuring Elon students in their own words.