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Be open, be ready to learn, and you know, just put in the work cuz that's where you grow the most. >> Hello Blue Jays, and welcome back to the Nest, [music] worries about life after Manor College. I'm your host, Kelly Peiffer, Vice President of Marketing Communications, and this is [music] the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like a Manor College, you belong here, always. Before we get to today's guest, it is

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time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know, where we will share a fun fact about Manor College with you that you may or may not know. Did you know that there is a brand newly renovated Dental Health Center here on campus? That's right, after decades of being a great affordable dental service to the community, our beloved Dental Health Center has gotten some major improvements thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The overhaul

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modernized technology, refreshed the facility, and added two new stations to bring the clinic's total capacity to nine dental chairs. These improvements enabled the center to serve more local patients, roughly 75% of whom are uninsured, while expanding enrollment in the college's dental hygiene program. Additionally, the college donated its replaced dental units to healthcare clinics in Kenya and Ukraine. Today's episode is sponsored by Manor College. We believe you deserve an education that feels like home. We offer

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associate and bachelor degrees in high-demand fields like business, psychology, and practical nursing. Our small class size means your professors know more than just your name, and you get the personalized attention you need to truly thrive. Discover a supportive environment just outside of Philadelphia where success is built one student at a time. It's more than just a college, it's a community. Ready to find your place? Visit manor.edu today to explore your options and see why you belong

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here. That's manor.edu. You belong here. Today we are joined by a guest whose incredible journey bridges global perspective, military discipline, and a deep passion for human movement and health care. Born right here in Philadelphia, but raised in Singapore, his academic path began with an Associate of Arts in Psychology. From there, he stepped into two years of national military service before returning to the United States to complete his Bachelor of Science in Health Professions at Temple University.

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While at Manor College, he was a true multi-sport athlete competing on both the men's basketball and track teams while staying active in the volleyball club. Now he's taking the big step in his journey as a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Drexel University. Please welcome to the show from the class of 2021, Raphael Ayeni. Hi, Raf. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> Yes, I can. Thanks for joining us today. >> No problem. No problem. It's good to be here. >> Yes.

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So, kind of take us back. Why did you choose Manor College and how did you first hear about Manor? >> Okay, so um I actually chose Manor College because my dad went to Manor back when he was in school and um he played soccer. And that's why he was at Manor. I think he he was supposed to play soccer at Manor, but he got hurt, I think, or he had some eligibility issues, but yeah, so he had some connections with John Dempster and that's how I ended up going to Manor for my Associate's.

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>> I love that. Okay, so there was a family connection. You got to get that full story, it sounds like, from your dad. Dad, what happened in your college career here with soccer? So, he knew our current athletic director, John Dempster, and that's how you got introduced to Manor. That's really cool. We often call when a student comes and maybe their parent came or sibling or anyone in their family came, we call that like a legacy family. Like, they're part of a legacy family attending Manor. So, that's very cool to

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hear. So, tell me a little bit, what was your Manor experience like? You were a student in the COVID years. So, I know I don't I don't we don't want to talk about that necessarily, but it was it was a time and it was something that we all kind of lived through together. What was it like for you being a student at Manor during COVID? >> Yeah, so the COVID part wasn't great, but I think it was actually pretty interesting and and almost cool to an extent for me especially because coming

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into Manor it was kind of a new environment for me and COVID kind of forced everyone to be more close and more of like a in a tight-knit community. So, during COVID it was um I think it was just the basketball players in the dorm and maybe some other people and like soccer or something. And at this point in time I played basketball, but I didn't get to play for high school and I recently broke my right arm, my shooting arm. So, coming into, you know, Manor, I wanted to play basketball, but

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I also wasn't, you know, very confident with where I was at like skill-wise. But, you know, I met a lot of people at Manor during the COVID year and we became close. You know, I got introduced to a lot of basketball players. We played at the park, um Elkins Park, all the time. And yeah, it was a cool experience being able to, you know, um I guess you could say it was kind of like trauma bonding, you know, we didn't really get to do much, but >> [laughter] >> you know, we were in it together. Yeah.

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>> that's a good way to describe it. I remember, um you know, obviously I worked here in those years and have a different perspective just being a staff member, but I remember the the students who lived in our res hall during COVID, they had a different connection to each other. And normally those residents hall students get close very quickly already, um but add on quarantining together, add on this like national shutdown of everything, all you kind of have is each other and if you

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don't get along, it's going to be really rough. So, that's really cool that you were kind of a part of that cohort, um and that you were able to kind of work through your basketball stuff because yeah, not playing in high school and then having an injury and then trying to kind of like be a walk-on, that's a lot of pressure, um for someone. So, tell us kind of what was it like being a student athlete at Manor during that time. So, um I actually um So, yeah, I started my sophomore year. I

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actually had this conversation with uh Anthony Floyd. Shout out to Anthony Floyd. Where um I was, you know, talking to him about my um like my desire to be on the basketball team, but not really sure of, you know, where I am basketball wise and if I would be able to make the team. And that was when he actually kind of told me cuz he's, I think, like um three or four years older than me, so he kind of gave me advice and was saying, you know, um you might as well try. You might as well go for the tryouts because

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what's the worst that could happen? At least you find out whether you're, you know, good enough to play or, you know, you might as well go for it. So, >> Right. >> Shout out to Anthony Floyd. He was the reason why I actually went for that tryout. And, um, you know, got even closer to all the basketball players and, you know, had a great, uh, sophomore season, um, at Manor playing basketball. And for the student part of being a student-athlete, I think that was, um, that was a lit- little

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easier for me to manage because, you know, in Singapore, the education system is very rigorous, so coming to Manor to try to balance sports and academics, it was it was a little bit I was a little bit more used to, you know, having to do that. So, that that wasn't too hard for me and, um, I I was in I think I was in, uh, I was a biology major when I first started out. And then I switched to psychology. >> Mhm. >> So, it was all like very science-based stuff, which I enjoyed a lot, so it

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wasn't it didn't feel like work to me. It was it was just fun, you know. >> Yeah. Well, that's great. That's great that you felt like you could manage and balance like the school and the sports and cuz that's a lot to do. Um, I remember Anthony Floyd. You had that you said his name and I was like, I could see his face in my in my head. That's so cool that he was able to encourage you to try out for the team. You make the team. You ended up being a great contributor that that sophomore year.

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Um, one of our one of our board members when you said his quote, "Just try out. Like you got nothing to lose." it reminded me of one of our board members for the our trustees here at the college. Her name is Tracy Davidson, and she's a former anchor for NBC 10, but now she's kind of like a national speaker, um, on resilience. And she has a quote that I actually have a sticky note on my desk. Um, here I'll show it to you because it's right here. And um, it says the win

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is in the trying. Like that's where you get the win. The win isn't always actually winning or actually making or succeeding, but it's in the trying. Um, so that really reminded me of what Anthony shared with you and I I love I love that. Good job, Anthony. Thanks for encouraging you. >> Yeah. So, talk to us about after you graduated from Manor with your associate's in psychology, you had to go back to Singapore because there is a um, I don't know if it's a law or some kind

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of rule, but you have to serve in the military. Kind of explain that to us. >> Yeah, so it's um, it's like mand- it's mandated like it's a mandatory service that citizens and residents have to serve and I I was a resident. And because my mom was a citizen, I was a second generation resident. So, second generation residents have to serve, too. So, yeah, I wasn't allowed to go above like a certain education level without serving. So, after my associate's, I had to go

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back and serve in the military for 2 years and um, to talk about the experience a little bit, it was um, I I think it was very hard mentally going from, you know, one of the best years of my life, I would say, you know, playing sports, you know, working a part-time job, having a little bit of money, and then, you know, >> and then freedom, you know, like >> Yeah, just, you know what I mean? Being away from home for the first time. It was It was nice. It was nice. And then and then going to the military

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where I had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and march >> total opposite. Mhm. >> It was It was it was hard. It was hard. Mentally, physically it was cool, you know, physically like it wasn't a problem but mentally it was very very difficult. >> Mhm. Yeah. I can see that. So, how did those two years then like motivate you and encourage you to like, okay, get my bachelor's and then kind of start figuring out a career path. Like, how do you find that those years in the military

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helped you know your next step? >> What the military made me understand was that everyone has their own journey, everyone has their own race. It was it was kind of disheartening like sometimes because I would see on social media like, oh, some of my friends that I was the same in the same year as like they're going on to, you know, get a job or they're finishing school and I'm you know, in all green crawling through dirt. But, you know, it it also made me understand that I have to

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understand that this this is my own this is my own journey, this is my own race and I don't have to compare myself to the next person. I just have to be, you know, better than I was the last last year. >> Right. >> what I'm saying? >> Yeah. >> And I met a lot of people in the military, too, that you know, they all come from different places, they have their own journeys and it was just inspiring to hear about all these different stories and again with the trauma bonding, you know,

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we're we got close and I'm hearing about all these stories and I'm like, you know, my my life isn't that bad. Like, I I'm I'm okay, you know what I mean? >> Right. It puts it into perspective what you're going through. And you're right, everyone's on their own journey, running their own race. You don't need to worry about someone next to you. But, I can see, I mean, I can see your point of view. Like, people are getting degrees, people are getting jobs and I'm I'm here kind of

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doing something that I was mandated to do and maybe I wouldn't necessarily choose this if I didn't have to do it and I could be another year or two ahead um but okay so you you've done your service you then go to Temple and you get a bachelor's degree and how did you know like you want to study health care and kind of get into the PT physical therapy world? How did you know that was going to be a path for you? >> That's a good question. So um in high school I've always been

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um science focused like I really like science and my my my mom and dad they're both in health care. So it's always been kind of like on my mind I guess like health care is always was a big like possibility for me like an option for me. And then when I went into Temple I actually started as a exercise science major first. And then I switched to becoming a health professions major when um I finally decided that I wanted to do physical therapy. Um I mean it it sounds like it sounds like you know

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um it would make sense to be an exercise science major to do physical therapy but it was just like like that and stuff with like when I would graduate >> Yeah. >> Yeah but both majors you can you know both majors work for that. >> kind of get you to the same goal different paths same goal. Got you. Okay. >> But yeah when I decided like I wanted to do physical therapy I was in my I think it was in the fall semester junior year so couple weeks after I started >> Mhm.

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>> and that's when I made the switch to health professions and started you know shadowing some clinics I went to I was a PTA at Ivy Rehab down at City Hall >> Mhm. >> and you know that allowed me to get my foot in the door. I talked to a lot of PTs, a bunch of students as well, and I met a lot of people that kind of just gave me the confidence I needed to say, "Okay, this is what I want to do." >> Yeah, that's great. I mean, shadowing is is a great way to really get in there

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and really know, like, "Okay, I really like this." Or the opposite, like, "Wow, I thought I would really like this, but I don't like this." >> Yeah. >> Um that's really great to hear, and I think So, you're starting a program at Drexel for a doctorate in physical therapy. Your program starts, I think, tomorrow or pretty soon, right? >> Yeah. >> How are you How are you feeling about this, and kind of what are you What are you nervous for, but also excited for?

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>> Yeah, so um we've had the past week has been orientation, and classes start tomorrow for us. And um a lot is it's the orientation was kind of nerve-racking. It was like 3 days of 8 hours straight of just information. Just what you need to know, study habits that you should have, you know, what not to do, what to do. And um yeah, I would say I'm pretty nervous. >> Mhm. >> But I feel like I'm at the point in my life where where I'm like, you know, being nervous is almost a good

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thing at this point. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, I'm not really I'm not really that worried. I just know that I'm just going to have to probably put in a little bit more effort than I've been in undergrad, and you know, turn it up a notch. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think I mean, obviously, I think being nervous is a good thing, too. I kind of can see what you mean there. Um it shows also that you care a lot. You know what I mean? If you weren't nervous, you wouldn't really be

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caring, and you definitely We want health professions in this world who care a lot. That's really important. So, I think that's a great sign and I think the things that you've gone through already has shown that like you are resilient, you have a great work ethic, you can focus, you can be compassionate, and like you are prepared to do this. It's going to be hard, but like you already have the skills to do it. Now, it's just a matter of doing it itself. So, that's um a little bit of

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encouragement for you there. So, as we kind of wrap up with you, Raf, it's been such a wonderful time to talk to you and kind of hear your hear your journey. What advice would you give to Manor students today based on kind of what you know? >> Yeah, I think um I think a big big lesson that I've learned throughout these years is, you know, dealing with imposter syndrome. I think that's a big thing. I know people like to talk about it, but I don't I didn't really have any way of

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dealing with it until recently, and I think it's important to to understand that when when dealing with imposter syndrome, you just have to understand that you're where you're at for a reason, and it's okay that you don't know the things that you don't know. Cuz no one is going into a new environment, a new setting knowing everything, cuz then it wouldn't be new. You know what I mean? >> Yes. >> When it comes to dealing with that, I think, you know, just be be open, um be ready to learn,

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and, you know, just put in the work, cuz that's where you you grow the most, you know, when you know, like like I said, like being nervous is almost a good thing. You know, having the imposter syndrome could also almost be seen as a good thing, because it's like oh, you're afraid of the things that you don't know. You don't know if you belong there. But that means that you have space to grow. So >> [clears throat] >> I think that when you're feeling things

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like that, it it should almost be a sign to you like I'm going to come out a different person and you know, this is a good thing that I should be going through. >> Mhm. Yeah, I think I think we got to take it back to Anthony Floyd's advice. The same thing, you know, like you got to try. You got nothing to lose. And that's a good thing, you know what I mean? So I think that's really great advice. Imposter syndrome is real and it's valid. But it means that you're like on the

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precipice of growth, you know what I mean? You're right there. And if you just get through it and you do it, you'll come out transformed and that's really I mean, that's our goal here as as one of our mission uh statements at the college is to really transform our students so that they grow into being lifelong learners and effective and compassionate people contributing out to this world and society that we're living in. So I see you doing that Raff in your in your career and your community. Thank you for

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your service to Singapore. Um it's really cool that you were able to kind of kind of have that experience and um major kudos to you for surviving the COVID years at Manor College. I think that's a special group of people right there who did that and I know remember you were one of them. Um but thanks so much for spending time with us today Raff. It's been really a joy and pleasure to get to talk to you and we are always cheering for you and wishing you nothing but the best as you start

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your next your next chapter. >> Thank you. I'mma need it. >> [laughter] >> You got it. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up-to-date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap another episode of The Nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here, always.