The Corps of Cadets is home to nearly two thousand students who are pursuing various educational and professional pathways. Engineering majors, Political Science majors, Business majors, and many others all frequently find their place on the Quad; but of them all, there is only one Performance Studies major that wears a Corps uniform in the classroom.
His name is Harrison Daniels, and he is a senior in Company E-2. Originally from Calgary, Canada, Harrison has had quite the successful Corps career. As a third generation Aggie, the decision to join the Corps of Cadets seems to be one that came naturally to Harrison.
“I joined the Corps because I wanted to get the complete experience here at A&M. I wanted to fully immerse myself into a different culture and really take it all in. Both my grandfather and my dad were Aggies before me, so it just made sense.”
Originally an Economics major, Harrison made the decision to switch to Performance Studies during his freshman year.
“I didn’t really know until my freshman year that this was my passion. I signed up for an acting class and I just absolutely fell in love with it. I’d acted in high school and just never really had taken it seriously, but I felt like something was missing without it. When I took that class my freshman year, it instantly clicked and became something that I really looked forward to. That was when I really began to pursue acting more,” Harrison said.
Harrison’s passion for theater will not end after his time at Texas A&M, as he was accepted into the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in New York City. Notable alumni from the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute include Hayden Christensen, Chris Evans, and Angelina Jolie. With this acceptance, Harrison is excited to further develop his acting skills at the next level.
“I applied to acting school because I really wanted to focus more on that aspect. Even though Performance Studies here isn’t focused specifically on acting, it definitely created a very solid foundation for me. I accepted my offer of admission to the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute’s Two Year Conservatory program because I believe that they have one of the best programs in the nation. I think that their alumni and their faculty really speak for themselves in terms of success.”
Though his time with Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets is drawing to a close, Harrison says there are many things that he has gained throughout his experience that will stay with him forever.
“My favorite part about being at Texas A&M and in the Corps of Cadets has been the unique experience. It has shown me two different parts of the world and allowed me to understand people from entirely different backgrounds than me. It has prepared me for my future in a really amazing, nonconventional way,” Harrison explained.
If you are not from Texas, but still considering a future with the Corps of Cadets, Harrison has some words of advice.
“For other international students coming to the Corps, just fully embrace it. It is definitely going to be a bit of a culture shock, but once you commit yourself to the change, you’re going to have a blast.”
The Corps of Cadets welcomes students with a variety of passions and interests from a multitude of backgrounds. Whether you’re from College Station, Texas, Calgary, Canada, or anywhere across the world, there is a place for everyone in the Corps.
Story by: Robin Nelson ’22
