Eric McDade has come a long way in a short time.
A third-year health informatics student from Miami, McDade had no desire to be a Rattler. Where he is from, going to FAMU is where everyone wanted to go. He wanted something different for himself.
He originally planned on attending Tuskegee University but after touring both schools, he knew that FAMU was the better option for him.
“Choosing between these schools was challenging,” McDade said. “I had no intentions of actually coming to FAMU, but as soon as I stepped foot on the campus, I felt at home. Tuskegee couldn’t beat that.”
McDade’s focus at FAMU has been solely on school and joining an organization that he knew would make an impact on him. The first organization he took interest in was Big Brother Little Brother mentoring program. Since then he has received one big brother and three little brothers.
“Eric has made an impact on my life by one, showing me the way around FAMU and the do’s and don’ts as a freshman. He’s also always been a great listener whenever I needed to express how I felt,” said Tyrese Rolle, one of McDade’s little brothers.
Rolle went on to explain how whenever he was going through a rough patch, McDade would help him through it and motivate him to always keep his head up. “I definitely believe that he will be successful in his future endeavors,” Rolle said.
Gabriela Sevrin, McDade’s friend, described him as kind, passionate and trustworthy. Sevrin described him as a determined person.
“I love how his personality is and how I am comfortable to tell him anything,” she said.
She continued, “If I ever need someone to talk to or if need any advice, I know I can come to Eric and he will give me the honest truth.”
Aside from his accomplishments on his journey through FAMU, McDade possesses a passion for singing. He wants to pursue this for his career.
McDade advises future Rattlers to be steadfast, confident and positive in everything.
“Don’t be afraid to step out of you comfort zone because you’re comfortable,” McDade said. “Also, don’t judge a person by their appearance because you never know their value as a person or a friend.”