A pledge paddle given to John Kiernan by his little brother in the Kappa Alpha order, Mike Copeland, hangs on his wall in his house in College Park, Md., on Friday Nov. 20, 2009. Kiernan joined KA in the fall of 2007, and it has been a large part of his college experience.

By John Kiernan



Boots sit waiting for use by a member of Branchville Fire Company and Rescue Squad in Branchville, Md., on Monday Nov. 2, 2009. Many members of Company 11 are students who must balance their studies with obligations at the fire house.

By John Kienan





A water bottle casts a shadow against the wall in John Kiernan's room in College Park, Md. on Friday Nov. 19, 2009. The water cooler, left by the house's previous residents, provides Kiernan with convenient, cool water and represents his love of the ocean.

By John Kiernan



John Kiernan's hat from his baseball team at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., hangs on the wall of his house in College Park, Md., on Nov. 20, 2009. While the cap is no longer donned in official games, it still carries a great deal of significance for Kiernan.

By John Kiernan