Editor's note: This is the final installment in a four-part series that discusses the college experience from the perspective of various groups on campus.<em>Editor's note: This is the final installment in a four-part series that discusses the college experience from the perspective of various groups on campus.</em> Editor’s note: This is the final installment in a four-part series that discusses the college experience from the perspective of various groups on campus.

Freshman Eric Marley didn’t want to come to Baker when he was younger.

He didn’t want to follow his parents, his grandparents, his family’s footsteps. He wanted to make his own mark, his own choices. He wanted to go somewhere else, somewhere different.

But Marley quickly changed his mind after visiting the campus, after seeing how special Baker was, how special it could be for him.

Now Marley and his family share something special, something true. They share a bond, a common ground – something they can talk about for years to come, something they can relive throughout their lives.

They share Baker University – its goods, its bads, its everything.

Marley is a legacy student, one of many at Baker.

“It was really important that I came here,” Marley said.

CHOOSING A COLLEGE<br/>Marley wasn't pressured to attend college at Baker.Marley wasn't pressured to attend college at Baker.
Marley wasn’t pressured to attend college at Baker.

Neither was freshman Brittany Vollenweider, whose parents also attended Baker.

“They really didn’t push Baker onto me,” she said. “My parents didn’t have a lot of influence. They let me make my own decisions.”

By allowing Vollenweider to make her own choice, she was able to accept Baker for what it is – a beautiful place with opportunities, the same, yet different, opportunities than her parents experienced.

“You can definitely say they bleed orange,” she said. “It was a lot for me to want the same happiness and the same opportunities that they had when they were here.”

FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD<br/>Growing up, Marley remembers his parents telling stories about greek life at Baker, about fraternity rivalries, about date parties and mixers.Growing up, Marley remembers his parents telling stories about greek life at Baker, about fraternity rivalries, about date parties and mixers.
Growing up, Marley remembers his parents telling stories about greek life at Baker, about fraternity rivalries, about date parties and mixers.

His father was a Zeta Chi and his mother joined Phi Mu.

“They both still meet with their greek friends,” he said.

Because of his parents' experience with greek life, Marley decided to join a fraternity.<br/>And even though he didn't pledge Zeta Chi, Marley said he thinks his father was OK with his decision.And even though he didn't pledge Zeta Chi, Marley said he thinks his father was OK with his decision.
And even though he didn’t pledge Zeta Chi, Marley said he thinks his father was OK with his decision.

“I decided to go greek because of them,” he said.

Now Marley’s father jokes around about him joining Delta Tau Delta, telling him all the nasty names he once called the fraternity members.

“He still jokes around about it,” he said.

COMMON GROUND<br/>For freshman Megan Reid, choosing Baker was always an option.For freshman Megan Reid, choosing Baker was always an option.
For freshman Megan Reid, choosing Baker was always an option.

She just had to make the decision on her own – without the help of her parents, her grandpa, her aunts and her cousin, without the help of all of her relatives who attended Baker.

“They would have been happy if I went, but they never pressured me,” she said. “I just really like the campus and how small it is and everything.”

Choosing Baker has been a gift for Reid’s family. It’s been something for them to share, something to cherish.

Marley wouldn’t argue with that. It’s given his family something to talk about, to laugh about. It’s given him a chance to see who his parents were, to understand the lessons they learned, to experience a time and place they love.

“They talked about it a ton,” he said. “They were excited and really happy. They were definitely willing to pay the extra money.”