Danielle Pelfrey

“I decided to participate in the Metro College program after accumulating a hefty amount of college debt and struggling to live without using a credit card,” said Danielle Pelfrey, a senior and communications major at the University of Louisville. “UPS has really saved me from a lot of financial stress, and it's taught me a lot of skills that I'll always be able to use."

Danielle graduated from Marion County High School in Lebanon, Kentucky and joined the Metropolitan College program in Summer 2019. Since then, Danielle has maintained full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters and taken classes during the semesters all while maintaining an exceptional 3.8 cumulative GPA.

Along with working third shift as an administrative assistant at UPS, Danielle is also a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and helps to organize philanthropy events for the organization.

This spring, Danielle received a nomination for the 2021 Outstanding Metropolitan College Student Award, an award that recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, work-life balance, and academic success.

Following graduation this December, Danielle plans on pursuing a master’s degree with a focus in speech language pathology. “What led me to choose this major was taking a linguistics course and realizing that I not only was good at learning about language, but I enjoyed it as well,” said Danielle.

Learn more about Christina Pelfrey in this Metropolitan College Spotlight Q&A Interview

What has been your biggest challenge as a MC participant and how did you overcome this challenge?
My biggest challenge in the MC program was time-management. What helped me overcome these challenges was realizing that everyone has their own path and finding a schedule that worked best for me. Also, not pressuring myself to graduate in four years and being mindful of the amount of classes I was taking allowed me to manage my time more easily.

What motivates and drives you to succeed while pursuing your educational goals?
What motivates me to succeed to pursue my education is knowing the importance that it has in this world. I understand that knowledge is critical for life and with every experience I learn new things.

How has working at UPS contributed to your personal and professional growth?
UPS has greatly contributed to my personal and professional growth. I would say in my personal life, it has taught me that sometimes you just have to do things you don't want to do. Patience is key because it takes time to get adjusted to the schedule. It has helped me learn time management in school, work, and my personal life. I think the Metro College program offers so many benefits.

What person(s) has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
My dad has been the biggest influence in my life because he has always supported me no matter what and has helped me through every hard time.

What advice do you have for students interested in the MC program?
My advice for students interested in the MC program is to just give yourself grace and time to adjust. Remember that a diamond can't be formed without some type of pressure. It does get overwhelming at times, but just communicate!!! Communicate with your professors that you work at UPS. Many of the professors are very empathetic and appreciate UPS students because they know how hard it is. Communicate with your supervisors if you have an exam or are struggling. If you are struggling, reach out for help.

What is an interesting or fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about myself is that I love hot yoga!

We are proud of our current students and alumni and their incredible accomplishments! The MC Spotlight is a way for us to highlight the amazing things our current students and alumni are doing. As you read their stories, you will learn how their Metropolitan College experiences helped to shape their futures and influence their careers.

We are always on the lookout for inspiring MC Spotlight stories. If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story with us, contact us at askmetro@kctcs.edu.

Note: At Metropolitan College, we consider our alumni anyone who has ever completed coursework and received tuition benefits with us.