Kristian Pel is looking to make a difference on Temple’s Campus and he’s already making strides as the first person of color to be elected as the president of Temple’s chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The senior kinesiology major plans to graduate in May and takes tremendous pride in being from the city of brotherly love. He sees this Homecoming campaign as an opportunity to make a difference as a positive role model for kids in neighborhood surrounding Temple.
As a varsity basketball coach in the Philadelphia Public League, Kristian hopes to continue his passion for working with children by having a career in pediatric medicine. But first, he hopes to be crowned Homecoming King this year. We sat down with Kristian and learned some more about him, and also gave him the chance to convince you that he deserves the crown.
If you were a salad, what part of the salad would you be and why? “The lettuce, because it is the most important part. You can’t have a salad without lettuce.”
Hobbies: Singing, boxing, coaching/playing/watching basketball and collecting sneakers.
Most embarrassing moment: “I was on my way back home from a trip to the Philippines in my freshman year of high school and we had a layover in Japan. I had to use the restroom before my flight, and I guess they don’t put the male/female signs outside of airport bathrooms in Japan. So I walk into the restroom totally neglecting the fact that there were no urinals present, and as I am walking out a group of women walk in giving me the strangest look. That’s when I realized that I had used the women’s restroom by mistake.”
Plans after college: “Right now, I am in the process of applying to pre-med post-baccalaureate programs in the area. My plan is to do a post-bac year to enhance my science GPA to make it more competitive for medical schools, and hopefully be attending a medical program within the next 2-3 years. If that does not work out, my plan is to do something in the medical/health field with my background in kinesiology, specifically with children.”
Why should you be Homecoming King? “I think I should be the homecoming king because I embody the Temple spirit. The Temple spirit to me is a celebration of diversity and endless opportunities. I have met so many different people and have experienced so many different things that I probably would not have if I hadn’t come to Temple. Because of that, I am able to bring different people together from different organizations and social groups to further promote school spirit and unity among the student body. I also think that being from Philadelphia would help inspire the youth in the surrounding neighborhoods. As stated, I am a basketball coach so I’ve gotten to know a lot of the young people around the city. They all see how much of a great time I am having during my campaign, and some have even gotten involved. When they see the kind of experience you can have when you extend your education past high school, they will want to experience the same things.”
You can vote for Kristian or any of the other Homecoming candidates on Temple’s Homecoming Court website.