When Darrah Wise chose Methodist University, it wasn’t just about academics. The Erie, Pennsylvania native said she was attracted to the MU’s diversity and described it as “the friendliest campus” she visited after researching schools in the region. That melting pot of diversity and openness, she felt, would give her the best chance to grow as both an artist and a student.
When Darrah Wise chose Methodist University, it wasn’t just about academics. The Erie, Pennsylvania native said she was attracted to the MU’s diversity and described it as “the friendliest campus” she visited after researching schools in the region. That melting pot of diversity and openness, she felt, would give her the best chance to grow as both an artist and a student.
Her mother, Dr. Rebecca Wise, said that sense of belonging was something her daughter noticed early on.
“When she was exploring MU, she researched the ‘MU Belong’ motto to see if it was really true,” Dr. Wise said. “In every person she interacted with, she found the same thing – loyalty to the school, colleagues, and students – in a way that really made inclusivity more than just a motto. She felt very much like even though she was moving hundreds of miles away from home, she was coming to a place that felt like home, as well.”
Her journey to MU is one that is already full of accolades. In 2023, Darrah became the 11th female Eagle Scout in her council, following in the footsteps of her two brothers. She said the process reshaped her confidence and taught her how to lead and speak up.
“I would not be the person I am today had I not been in Scouts,” Darrah said. “It really has changed who I am.”
Now a Graphic Design major, Darrah is finding her rhythm at MU. One of her pieces was recently chosen for display in the hallways of the Bethune Center for Visual Arts. For a freshman still getting adjusted to college life, the recognition was an encouraging step forward.
“It’s a wonderful feeling having my art on display,” she said. “I was never much of a drawer in grade school, so I didn’t take many art classes, but since coming to MU I fell in love with the program and processes that I’m being exposed to. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Darrah’s journey is also shaped by a unique family connection, as her mother serves as dean of admissions for the proposed Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, pending approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Darrah said it doesn’t add pressure so much as perspective.
“She’s never pressured me into anything,” Darrah said. “Honestly, she’s like the best person I know.”
The pair enjoy their time together in the community, be it at Fayetteville Woodpeckers baseball games or other local events. They are both sharing the experience of building something new; for her mother, through the medical school still taking shape, and for Darrah through her growing work as an artist.
“Darrah is my daughter, but also now that she is older and developing the adult version of herself, she is my friend,” Dr. Wise said. “She embodies all the good things from her father and me combined.”
As Darrah continues to explore her creativity, her mother said that curiosity has always been at the heart of who she is.
“She’s interested in how things work and why things are the way they are,” Dr. Wise said. “She likes to hear people’s stories and connect with the world around her, and she loves to photograph it from different perspectives to help others see beauty the way she does.”
That perspective guides Darrah’s growing interest in photography and visual storytelling. She said she looks forward to getting more involved on campus, with an eye on the photography club and interest in pursuing a career in professional photography.
For now, her goal is straightforward: pass all her classes, give her best effort, and as she begins to find her focus, Darrah is discovering that college like art, is all about perspective.
For more on the Graphic Design program at Methodist University, visit methodist.edu/academics/program/graphic-design.